CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,992,371	$ 2,061,819	$ 2,064,602
Cost of goods sold	993,237	1,046,824	1,040,985
Gross profit	999,134	1,014,995	1,023,617
Occupancy and buying expenses	340,198	365,691	390,225
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	577,520	599,130	582,941
Depreciation and amortization	56,681	68,339	76,302
Sale of Proprietary Credit Card Receivables Programs	0	0	14,237
Gain from sale of office premises	(5,185)	0	0
Impairment of store assets, goodwill, and trademarks	0	17,054	15,741
Restructuring and other charges	11,238	8,776	31,719
Total operating expenses	980,452	1,058,990	1,111,165
Income/(loss) from operations	18,682	(43,995)	(87,548)
Other income	431	1,119	834
Gain on repurchases of 1.125% Senior Convertible Notes	0	1,907	13,979
Interest expense	(14,087)	(15,887)	(18,799)
Income/(loss) before income taxes	5,026	(56,856)	(91,534)
Income tax provision/(benefit)	7,043	(2,874)	(13,572)
Net loss	(2,017)	(53,982)	(77,962)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	0	0	(5)
Comprehensive loss	$ (2,017)	$ (53,982)	$ (77,967)
Basic net income per share:
Basic net loss per share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.67)
Diluted net income per share:
Diluted net loss per share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.67)