The mesorah of not looking at ugly things during pregnancy has its basis in the story of Yaakov Avinu and his flocks of sheep that gave birth to speckled, spotted, and ringed lambs when the mothers looked at the staffs that he carved in those designs when mating.
The not walking in socks goes to the halacha of an aveil not wearing shoes. So it is an ayin hara to walk in shoeless socks UNLESS one is sitting shiva. Bare feet are not the same problem.
I held the havdala candle at least six feet high every motzai Shabbos and STILL married a short guy. So there.