Restructuring and Other Charges (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 28, 2012
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	$ 11,694
Costs incurred during the period	1,791
Payments/settlements during the period	(5,416)
Accrued as of end of period	8,069
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			46,917
Costs incurred during the period	1,027	47
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	8,057
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	56,001
Fiscal 2011 Announcements [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Store Impairment Charges [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			654
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	654
Fiscal 2011 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	1,343
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	(743)
Accrued as of end of period	600
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			2,254
Costs incurred during the period	(87)
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	2,167
Fiscal 2011 Announcements [Member] | Transformational initiatives [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	2,214
Costs incurred during the period	1,741
Payments/settlements during the period	(2,914)
Accrued as of end of period	1,041
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			6,194
Costs incurred during the period	1,741
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	2,072
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	10,007
Fiscal 2010 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			208
Costs incurred during the period	(297)
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	4,200
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	4,111
Fiscal 2010 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Non-cash impairment charge for CATHERINES stores in outlet locations [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			3,210
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	3,210
Fiscal 2010 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	661
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	(426)
Accrued as of end of period	235
Fiscal 2010 Announcements [Member] | Severance for departure of former CEO [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	788
Costs incurred during the period	(20)
Payments/settlements during the period	(252)
Accrued as of end of period	516
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			2,898
Costs incurred during the period	(20)
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	2,878
Fiscal 2009 Announcements [Member] | PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET stores [Member] | Non-cash accelerated depreciation [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			612
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	612
Fiscal 2009 Announcements [Member] | PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			1,070
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	1,070
Fiscal 2009 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	1,751
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	(323)
Accrued as of end of period	1,428
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			4,623
Costs incurred during the period	(380)
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	300
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	4,543
Fiscal 2009 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET stores [Member] | Other non-cash costs [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			195
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	195
Fiscal 2009 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	163
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	(44)
Accrued as of end of period	119
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Closing of stores [Member] | Under-performing stores [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	465
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	(62)
Accrued as of end of period	403
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			8,305
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	8,305
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Lease termination and accretion charges [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			11,557
Costs incurred during the period	70
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	1,485
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	13,112
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Severance, retention, and other costs [Member]
Restructuring and Other Charges [Abstract]
Restructuring and other costs incurred as of beginning of period			5,137
Costs incurred during the period	0
Restructuring and other costs expected to be incurred	0
Total estimated/actual costs as of end of period	5,137
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Non-core misses apparel assets [Member] | Lease termination charges [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	4,156
Costs incurred during the period	70
Payments/settlements during the period	(652)
Accrued as of end of period	3,574
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Non-core misses apparel assets [Member] | Other costs [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	153
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	0
Accrued as of end of period	153
Fiscal 2007 and Fiscal 2008 Announcements [Member] | Transformational initiatives [Member] | Severance and retention costs [Member]
Accrued restructuring and other charges [Roll Forward]
Accrued as of beginning of period	0
Costs incurred during the period	0
Payments/settlements during the period	0
Accrued as of end of period	$ 0