Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Paid-in capital	Noncontrolling interest	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury stock
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				$ 0
Beginning Balance at Feb. 01, 2014	$ 1,729,493	$ 1,033	$ 433,620		$ 2,556,270	$ (20,917)	$ (1,240,513)
Beginning balance, shares outstanding at Feb. 01, 2014		76,402					26,898
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Net income attributable to A&F	51,821				51,821
Purchase of common stock	(285,038)						$ (285,038)
Purchase of common stock, shares		(7,324)					7,324
Dividends	(57,362)				(57,362)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(4,951)		(17,884)		(56)		$ 12,989
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares		274					(274)
Tax effect of share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(4,626)		(4,626)
Share-based compensation expense	23,027		23,027
Net change in unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments	15,266					15,266
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(77,929)					(77,929)
Ending Balance at Jan. 31, 2015	1,389,701	$ 1,033	434,137		2,550,673	(83,580)	$ (1,512,562)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Jan. 31, 2015		69,352					33,948
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,983
Net income attributable to A&F	35,576				35,576
Purchase of common stock	(50,033)						$ (50,033)
Purchase of common stock, shares		(2,461)					2,461
Dividends	(55,145)				(55,145)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(8,109)		(37,220)		(908)		$ 30,019
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares		457					(457)
Tax effect of share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(18,247)		(18,247)
Share-based compensation expense	28,359		28,359
Net change in unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments	(8,523)					(8,523)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(22,516)					(22,516)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	1,676			1,676
Ending Balance at Jan. 30, 2016	1,291,063	$ 1,033	407,029		2,530,196	(114,619)	$ (1,532,576)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Jan. 30, 2016		67,348					35,952
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	4,659			4,659
Total Abercrombie & Fitch Co. stockholders’ equity	1,295,722
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,762
Net income attributable to A&F	3,956				3,956
Dividends	(54,066)				(54,066)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(5,439)		(25,043)		(5,383)		$ 24,987
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares		410					(410)
Tax effect of share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(7,516)		(7,516)
Share-based compensation expense	22,120		22,120
Net change in unrealized gains or losses on derivative financial instruments	248					248
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(6,931)					(6,931)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests, net	183			183
Ending Balance at Jan. 28, 2017	1,243,435	$ 1,033	$ 396,590		$ 2,474,703	$ (121,302)	$ (1,507,589)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Jan. 28, 2017		67,758					35,542
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	8,604			$ 8,604
Total Abercrombie & Fitch Co. stockholders’ equity	$ 1,252,039