Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total		Common Stock	Paid-in capital	Noncontrolling interest	Retained earnings	Treasury stock	AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					$ 8,604
Beginning Balance at Jan. 28, 2017	$ 1,252,039		$ 1,033	$ 396,590		$ 2,474,703	$ (1,507,589)	$ (121,302)
Beginning balance, shares outstanding at Jan. 28, 2017			67,758				35,542
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,431
Net income attributable to A&F	7,094					7,094
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	10,525
Dividends ($0.80 per share)	54,392					(54,392)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(2,114)	[1]		(12,347)		(6,853)	$ 17,086
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares			437				(437)
Share-based compensation expense	22,108			22,108
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(14,932)							(14,932)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	41,180							41,180
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(1,943)				(1,943)
Ending Balance at Feb. 03, 2018	1,252,471		$ 1,033	406,351		2,420,552	$ (1,490,503)	(95,054)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Feb. 03, 2018			68,195				35,105
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest					10,092
Impact from adoption of the new lease accounting standard (Refer to Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”)	6,944
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,267
Net income attributable to A&F	74,541					74,541
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	78,808
Purchase of common stock	$ 68,670
Purchase of common stock, shares	68,670		(2,931)				2,931
Dividends ($0.80 per share)	$ 53,714					(53,714)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(6,937)	[1]		(22,727)		(29,779)	$ 45,569
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares			963				(963)
Share-based compensation expense	21,755			21,755
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax	12,542							12,542
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(19,940)							(19,940)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(4,638)				(4,638)
Ending Balance at Feb. 02, 2019	1,208,900		$ 1,033	405,379		2,418,544	$ (1,513,604)	(102,452)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Feb. 02, 2019			66,227				37,073
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	9,721				9,721
Total stockholders’ equity	1,218,621
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,602
Net income attributable to A&F						39,358
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	44,960
Purchase of common stock	63,542
Purchase of common stock, shares			(3,957)				3,957
Dividends ($0.80 per share)	51,510					(51,510)
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises	(6,804)	[1]		(14,403)		(17,482)	$ 25,081
Share-based compensation issuances and exercises, shares			516				(516)
Share-based compensation expense	14,007
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax	(1,354)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	(5,080)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(2,955)				(2,955)
Ending Balance at Feb. 01, 2020	1,058,810		$ 1,033	$ 404,983		$ 2,313,745	$ (1,552,065)	$ (108,886)
Ending balance, shares outstanding at Feb. 01, 2020			62,786				40,514
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification	(75,165)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	12,368				$ 12,368
Total stockholders’ equity	$ 1,071,178

[1] ⁽¹⁾  Classified within other financing activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.