The Advertising Standards Agency received two complaints that the site featured ‘offensive and overtly sexual’ images that showed models in a vulnerable position.

One of the banned ads for bodysuits and thigh-high socks shows a girl reclining on a bed with her legs open, while in another she is in a kneeling position.

The ASA said: “We considered the images were overtly sexual and that they demeaned women by emphasising the model’s groin, buttocks and breasts and by not including her face.”

Another, which showed a store consultant modelling a jumper with nothing on her bottom-half, was deemed to be “gratuitous, particularly in an ad for knitwear”.

The trendy retailer has regularly flouted advertising regulations using sexually suggestive photos of young women.

Last December it was ordered to remove a string of topless photos from its website - some of which appeared to feature underage models.

American Apparel said they “did their best to abide by the standards of the industry" despite having three adverts banned in just over four months.

The ASA said: “We considered the ads were likely to cause serious offence to visitors to American Apparel’s website. The ads must not appear again in their current form."