SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Feb. 02, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Percentage of entity-wide sales qualifying purchaser as major customer (as a percent)			10.00%
Segment information
Business Exit Costs	$ 61,000	$ 3,062,000	$ (962,000)	$ 3,896,000	$ 6,800,000
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	21,766,000	280,000	21,766,000	1,530,000
Restructuring Charges	1,700,000	1,300,000	2,200,000	3,900,000
Net sales:
Total net sales	382,448,000	360,826,000	805,612,000	799,334,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	126,182,000	114,705,000	289,450,000	293,350,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	33.00%	31.80%	35.90%	36.70%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(35,646,000)	(26,790,000)	(7,187,000)	10,270,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	(9.30%)	(7.40%)	(0.90%)	1.30%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	15,593,000	17,482,000	32,417,000	34,700,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	16,569,000	22,225,000	38,670,000	44,237,000
Total assets:
Total assets	957,981,000	885,360,000	957,981,000	885,360,000	923,410,000
The Children's Place Canada [Member]
Segment information
Asset Impairment Charges		1,000,000
westcoastnortheastdc [Domain]
Segment information
Business Exit Costs	100,000	3,100,000	(1,000,000)	3,900,000
The Childrens Place US Member
Segment information
Asset Impairment Charges				1,500,000
impairedus [Domain]
Segment information
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	20,800,000
The Childrens Place US Member
Net sales:
Total net sales	329,953,000	310,053,000	703,606,000	694,836,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	106,553,000	95,603,000	250,490,000	252,010,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	32.30%	30.80%	35.60%	36.30%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(34,956,000)	(25,583,000)	(7,021,000)	8,867,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	(10.60%)	(8.30%)	(1.00%)	1.30%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	13,922,000	14,493,000	28,481,000	28,723,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	14,300,000	16,130,000	32,274,000	35,290,000
Total assets:
Total assets	797,025,000	725,213,000	797,025,000	725,213,000	746,911,000
Number of Stores	983	954	983	954
The Children's Place Canada [Member]
Net sales:
Total net sales	52,495,000	50,773,000	102,006,000	104,498,000
Gross Profit:
Total gross profit	19,629,000	19,102,000	38,960,000	41,340,000
Gross Margin:
Total Gross Margin (as a percent)	37.40%	37.60%	38.20%	39.60%
Operating income (loss):
Total operating income (loss)	(690,000)	(1,207,000)	(166,000)	1,403,000
Operating income (loss) as a percent of net sales:
Total operating income (loss) (as a percent)	(1.30%)	(2.40%)	(0.20%)	1.30%
Depreciation and amortization:
Total depreciation and amortization	1,671,000	2,989,000	3,936,000	5,977,000
Capital expenditures:
Total capital expenditures	2,269,000	6,095,000	6,396,000	8,947,000
Total assets:
Total assets	$ 160,956,000	$ 160,147,000	$ 160,956,000	$ 160,147,000	$ 176,499,000
Number of Stores	133	126	133	126