It wasn’t until little balls of colorful fuzz were attached that the once-lofty tube sock could descend to a more reasonable altitude and yet still retain its fashion prowess. Ankle-high pom-pom socks were the sexy alternative to the towering tube sock and provided a color-coordinated look that its predecessor could never hope to achieve.

Available in a rainbow of colors and often packaged in a trio of variously colored pairs, these dangling balls were perfect for bridging the gap between jean and shoe and tying the whole look together. A pair of yellow Dittos jeans and yellow Nikes, for example, were perfectly accentuated by the puffy balls of wholesome goodness. The pom-pom sock offered a palette of color coordination that was unmatched in the annals of footwear fashion and helped to knock the tube sock from its pompous pedestal.