Preferred Stock Purchase Rights	12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights [Abstract]
Preferred Stock [Text Block]	22. PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS On July 16, 1998, A&F's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock Purchase Right (the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), par value $0.01 per share, of A&F. The dividend was paid on July 28, 1998 to stockholders of record on that date. Shares of Common Stock issued after July 28, 1998 and prior to May 25, 1999 were issued with one Right attached. A&F's Board of Directors declared a two-for-one stock split (the “Stock Split”) on the Common Stock, payable on June 15, 1999 to the holders of record at the close of business on May 25, 1999. In connection with the Stock Split, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on May 25, 1999, or issued or delivered after May 25, 1999 and prior to the “Distribution Date” (as defined below), was proportionately adjusted from one Right to 0.50 Right. Each share of Common Stock issued after May 25, 1999 and prior to the Distribution Date has been, and will be issued, with 0.50 Right attached so that all shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the Distribution Date will have 0.50 Right attached. The Rights are initially attached to the shares of Common Stock. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock after a Distribution Date occurs. The “Distribution Date” generally means the earlier of (i) the close of business on the 10th day after the date (the “Share Acquisition Date”) of the first public announcement that a person or group (other than A&F or any of A&F's subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan of A&F or of any of A&F's subsidiaries) has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of A&F's outstanding shares of Common Stock (an “Acquiring Person”), or (ii) the close of business on the 10th business day (or such later date as A&F's Board of Directors may designate before any person has become an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated, result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, each whole Right may be exercised to purchase, at an initial exercise price of $250, one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock. At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, but before the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately following paragraph, each holder of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, will be entitled to purchase, upon exercise of the Right, shares of Common Stock having a market value of twice the exercise price of the Right. At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, but before any person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately following paragraph, A&F's Board of Directors may exchange all or part of the Rights, other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per 0.50 Right. If, after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (i) A&F is involved in a merger or other business combination transaction in which A&F is not the surviving corporation or A&F's Common Stock is exchanged for other securities or assets, or (ii) A&F and/or one or more of A&F's subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer 50% or more of the assets or earning power of A&F and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each holder of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, will be entitled to buy, for the exercise price of the Rights, the number of shares of common stock of the other party to the business combination or sale, or in certain circumstances, an affiliate, which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of twice the exercise price of the Right. The Rights will expire on July 16, 2018, unless earlier exchanged or redeemed. A&F may redeem all of the Rights at a price of $0.01 per whole Right at any time before any person becomes an Acquiring Person. Rights holders have no rights as a stockholder of A&F, including no right to vote or to receive dividends.

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights [Abstract]

22. PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS

On July 16, 1998, A&F's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock Purchase Right (the “Rights”) for each outstanding share of Class A Common Stock (the “Common Stock”), par value $0.01 per share, of A&F. The dividend was paid on July 28, 1998 to stockholders of record on that date. Shares of Common Stock issued after July 28, 1998 and prior to May 25, 1999 were issued with one Right attached. A&F's Board of Directors declared a two-for-one stock split (the “Stock Split”) on the Common Stock, payable on June 15, 1999 to the holders of record at the close of business on May 25, 1999. In connection with the Stock Split, the number of Rights associated with each share of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on May 25, 1999, or issued or delivered after May 25, 1999 and prior to the “Distribution Date” (as defined below), was proportionately adjusted from one Right to 0.50 Right. Each share of Common Stock issued after May 25, 1999 and prior to the Distribution Date has been, and will be issued, with 0.50 Right attached so that all shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the Distribution Date will have 0.50 Right attached.

The Rights are initially attached to the shares of Common Stock. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock after a Distribution Date occurs. The “Distribution Date” generally means the earlier of (i) the close of business on the 10th day after the date (the “Share Acquisition Date”) of the first public announcement that a person or group (other than A&F or any of A&F's subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan of A&F or of any of A&F's subsidiaries) has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of A&F's outstanding shares of Common Stock (an “Acquiring Person”), or (ii) the close of business on the 10th business day (or such later date as A&F's Board of Directors may designate before any person has become an Acquiring Person) after the date of the commencement of a tender or exchange offer by any person which would, if consummated, result in such person becoming an Acquiring Person. The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, each whole Right may be exercised to purchase, at an initial exercise price of $250, one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock.

At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, but before the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately following paragraph, each holder of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, will be entitled to purchase, upon exercise of the Right, shares of Common Stock having a market value of twice the exercise price of the Right. At any time after any person becomes an Acquiring Person, but before any person becomes the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or the occurrence of any of the events described in the immediately following paragraph, A&F's Board of Directors may exchange all or part of the Rights, other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock per 0.50 Right.

If, after any person has become an Acquiring Person, (i) A&F is involved in a merger or other business combination transaction in which A&F is not the surviving corporation or A&F's Common Stock is exchanged for other securities or assets, or (ii) A&F and/or one or more of A&F's subsidiaries sell or otherwise transfer 50% or more of the assets or earning power of A&F and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, each holder of a Right, other than the Acquiring Person and certain affiliated persons, will be entitled to buy, for the exercise price of the Rights, the number of shares of common stock of the other party to the business combination or sale, or in certain circumstances, an affiliate, which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of twice the exercise price of the Right.

The Rights will expire on July 16, 2018, unless earlier exchanged or redeemed. A&F may redeem all of the Rights at a price of $0.01 per whole Right at any time before any person becomes an Acquiring Person.

Rights holders have no rights as a stockholder of A&F, including no right to vote or to receive dividends.