Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Abercrombie & Fitch marketed itself as a wholesome, outdoorsy sort of store – a capital place to buy a field jacket or a brown wool cardigan.

It was competing for the same oatmeal-heather-loving, duck boot-wearing customers as L.L. Bean.

But that was then – before A&F decided to mine the rich pop-cultural vein of soft porn.

Thus the Christmas issue of the A&F Quarterly – which is a cross between a catalogue and a skin mag – goes on sale this week with a prohibition against anyone under 18 buying it in stores.

A&F rep Hampton Carney explained: “You have to be over 18. You have to go into the stores to buy them. They are $7. You have to show your photo ID.”

The Yuletide issue is rife with naked girls and boys in sexually suggestive poses – even an orgy scene or two (either just getting started or just ending).

The mags sport a red sticker carrying the warning: “Editors Note: Due to mature content, parental consent suggested for readers under 18.”