QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017		Oct. 29, 2016		Jul. 30, 2016		Apr. 30, 2016		Jan. 30, 2016		Oct. 31, 2015		Aug. 01, 2015		May 02, 2015		Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,036,363		$ 821,734		$ 783,160		$ 685,483		$ 1,112,930		$ 878,572		$ 817,756		$ 709,422		$ 3,326,740	$ 3,518,680	$ 3,744,030
Gross profit	615,001		510,739		477,107		425,721		676,345		559,787		509,862		411,549		2,028,568	2,157,543	2,313,570
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	50,105		8,274		(12,031)	[1]	(38,630)	[2]	58,908		42,285		612		(63,246)		7,718	38,559	51,821
Net income (loss) attributable to A&F	$ 48,791		$ 7,881		$ (13,129)	[1]	$ (39,587)	[2]	$ 57,741		$ 41,891		$ (810)		$ (63,246)		$ 3,956	$ 35,576	$ 51,821
Net income (loss) per diluted share attributable to A&F	$ 0.71	[3]	$ 0.12	[3]	$ (0.19)	[1],[3]	$ (0.59)	[2],[3]	$ 0.85	[3]	$ 0.60	[3]	$ (0.01)	[3]	$ (0.91)	[3]	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ 0.71
Schedule of Items Affecting Comparability [Line Items]
Charges related to asset impairment, lease terminations and store closures, the restructuring of the Gilly Hicks Brand, the Company's profit improvement initiative and certain corporate governance matters			$ 6,500		$ 3,700				$ 16,000		$ 9,000		$ 9,400		$ 26,100
Increase (decrease) in net income related to correction of errors									$ (1,900)		$ 1,200		$ (2,600)

[1] (3) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2015 included certain items related to inventory write-down, asset impairment, legal settlement charges, store fixture disposal, the Company’s profit improvement initiative, lease termination and store closure costs and restructuring. These items adversely impacted net income (loss) attributable to A&F by $26.1 million, $9.4 million and $16.0 million for the first, second and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2015, respectively, and increased net income attributable to A&F by $9.0 million for the third quarter of Fiscal 2015

[2] (2) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2016 included certain items related to asset impairment, indemnification recoveries and claims settlement benefits. These items adversely impacted net income (loss) attributable to A&F by $3.7 million and $6.5 million for the second and third quarters of Fiscal 2016, respectively.

[3] (1) Net income (loss) per diluted share for each of the quarters was computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the quarter while the full year is computed using the average of the weighted average number of shares outstanding each quarter; therefore, the sum of the quarters may not equal the total for the year.