Segment Information - Revenues and Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 1,437,451	$ 1,560,983	$ 2,986,571	$ 3,271,078
Operating income (loss)	121,874	86,244	(343,898)	(88,399)
Interest expense	48,156	24,646	132,702	68,557
Interest (income)	(785)	(1,575)	(5,631)	(6,337)
Other non-operating expense, net	1,911	1,910	4,366	7,532
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes	72,592	61,263	(475,335)	(158,151)
Share-based compensation expense			36,187	47,582
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	1,606,636	1,710,164	3,360,767	3,593,308
Operating income (loss)	223,533	152,946	(62,227)	119,205
Net sales reversal and bad debt expense	(13,000)		66,800
Net sales reversal		43,000		43,000
Operating Segments | North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	886,307	839,341	1,677,580	1,708,901
Operating income (loss)	186,705	86,240	54,015	109,623
Net sales reversal and bad debt expense			57,400
Net sales reversal		43,000		43,000
Operating Segments | International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	656,467	776,947	1,507,277	1,637,031
Operating income (loss)	46,466	81,307	(75,539)	48,140
Net sales reversal and bad debt expense			7,700
Operating Segments | American Girl
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	63,862	93,876	175,910	247,376
Operating income (loss)	(9,638)	(14,601)	(40,703)	(38,558)
Net sales reversal and bad debt expense			1,700
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	(101,659)	(66,702)	(281,671)	(207,604)
Severance and other termination-related costs	25,500	12,600	98,200	21,500
Share-based compensation expense	13,800	17,000	36,200	47,600
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	(169,185)	(149,181)	(374,196)	(322,230)
Interest expense	48,156	24,646	132,702	68,557
Interest (income)	785	1,575	5,631	6,337
Other non-operating expense, net	$ (1,911)	$ (1,910)	$ (4,366)	$ (7,532)