BUSINESS SEGMENTS BUSINESS SEGMENTS - Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2020		Jan. 26, 2019		Feb. 01, 2020		Jan. 26, 2019
Business segment information
Net sales	$ 6,137,604		$ 6,149,206		$ 12,157,189		$ 9,017,362
Goodwill and asset impairment charges					425,405		370,871
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	29,686		47,125		43,936		115,129
Operating loss	(5,071)		(408,135)		(449,098)		(426,973)
Total other expense, net	44,824		46,977		82,912		53,755
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(49,895)		(455,112)		(532,010)		(480,728)
Depreciation and amortization	69,219		73,200		144,360		97,993
Capital expenditures	43,505		63,756		84,627		80,137
Total assets of continuing operations	7,209,155		6,822,743		7,209,155		6,822,743
Operating Segments | Wholesale
Business segment information
Net sales	6,144,381	[1]	6,131,418	[2]	12,151,476	[3]	8,988,384	[4]
Goodwill and asset impairment charges					423,703		370,871
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	11,410		4		19,362		4
Operating loss	18,745		(352,678)		(397,484)		(292,441)
Total other expense, net
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes					0		0
Depreciation and amortization	65,562		69,801		133,761		93,318
Capital expenditures	43,220		63,673		83,349		79,410
Total assets of continuing operations	6,622,768		6,497,883		6,622,768		6,497,883
Operating Segments | Other
Business segment information
Net sales	38,267		56,717		102,016		105,471
Goodwill and asset impairment charges					1,702		0
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	18,276		47,121		24,574		115,125
Operating loss	(22,817)		(55,138)		(52,127)		(133,467)
Total other expense, net
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes					0		0
Depreciation and amortization	3,657		3,399		10,599		4,675
Capital expenditures	285		83		1,278		727
Total assets of continuing operations	633,031		361,063		633,031		361,063
Eliminations
Business segment information
Net sales	(45,044)		(38,929)		(96,303)		(76,493)
Goodwill and asset impairment charges					0		0
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	0		0		0		0
Operating loss	(999)		(319)		513		(1,065)
Total other expense, net
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes					0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Capital expenditures			0		0		0
Total assets of continuing operations	(46,644)		(36,203)		(46,644)		(36,203)
Unallocated (Income)/Expenses
Business segment information
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Goodwill and asset impairment charges					0		0
Restructuring, acquisition and integration related expenses	0		0		0		0
Operating loss	0		0		0		0
Total other expense, net	44,824		46,977		82,912		53,755
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes					0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Capital expenditures	0		0		0		0
Total assets of continuing operations	0		0		0		0
Discontinued Operations | Operating Segments | Wholesale
Business segment information
Discontinued operations inter-company product purchases	$ 251,500		$ 265,200		$ 496,100		$ 287,000

[1] For the second quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company recorded $251.5 million within Net sales in its wholesale reportable segment attributable to discontinued operations inter-company product purchases from its Retail operating segment, which it expects will continue subsequent to the sale of certain retail banners.

[2] For the second quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company recorded $265.2 million within Net sales in its wholesale reportable segment attributable to discontinued operations inter-company product purchases from its Retail operating segment, which it expects will continue subsequent to the sale of certain retail banners.

[3] For fiscal 2020 year-to-date, the Company recorded $496.1 million within Net sales in its wholesale reportable segment attributable to discontinued operations inter-company product purchases from its Retail operating segment, which it expects will continue subsequent to the sale of certain retail banners.

[4] For fiscal 2019 year-to-date, the Company recorded $287.0 million within Net sales in its wholesale reportable segment attributable to discontinued operations inter-company product purchases from its Retail operating segment, which it expects will continue subsequent to the sale of certain retail banners.