Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013		Oct. 27, 2012		Jul. 28, 2012		Apr. 28, 2012		Jan. 28, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Feb. 02, 2013		Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 3,856	[1]	$ 2,050	[2]	$ 2,399	[3]	$ 2,154	[4]	$ 3,515	[5]	$ 2,174		$ 2,458	[6]	$ 2,217	[7]	$ 10,459		$ 10,364	$ 9,613
Gross Profit	1,717	[1]	825	[2]	942	[3]	902	[4]	1,528	[5]	785		902	[6]	842	[7]	4,386		4,057	3,631
Operating Income	788	[1]	187	[2]	305	[3]	293	[4]	641	[5]	186		194	[6]	217	[7]	1,573	[8]	1,238	1,284	[8]
Income Before Income Taxes	711	[1]	128	[2]	229	[3]	213	[4]	580	[5]	122		276	[6]	249	[7]
Net Income	$ 411	[1]	$ 74	[2]	$ 143	[3]	$ 125	[4]	$ 360	[5]	$ 94		$ 231	[6]	$ 165	[7]	$ 753		$ 850	$ 805
Net Income Per Basic Share	$ 1.43	[1],[9]	$ 0.26	[2],[9]	$ 0.50	[3],[9]	$ 0.43	[4],[9]	$ 1.21	[10],[5]	$ 0.32	[10]	$ 0.76	[10],[6]	$ 0.52	[10],[7]
Net Income Per Diluted Share	$ 1.39	[1],[9]	$ 0.25	[2],[9]	$ 0.49	[3],[9]	$ 0.41	[4],[9]	$ 1.17	[10],[5]	$ 0.31	[10]	$ 0.73	[10],[6]	$ 0.50	[10],[7]

[1] The Company utilizes the retail calendar for reporting. As such, the results for fiscal years 2012 and 2011 represent the 53-week period ended February 2, 2013 and the 52-week period ended January 28, 2012, respectively. The 2012 fourth quarter consists of a fourteen week period versus a thirteen week period in 2011.

[2] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax charge of $93 million related to the impairment of La Senza goodwill and other intangible assets; and(ii)A pre-tax charge of $27 million related to the impairment of Henri Bendel long-lived store assets.

[3] Includes the effect of the following items:i.A pre-tax gain of $13 million related to $13 million in cash distributions from certain of our investments in Easton; andii.A pre-tax expense of $10 million associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.

[4] Includes $4 million of expense associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.

[5] Includes the effect of a tax benefit of $17 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[6] Includes the effect of a non-taxable gain of $147 million and pre-tax expense of $113 million associated with the charitable contribution of Express, Inc. common stock to The Limited Brands Foundation.

[7] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $86 million related to the sale of shares of Express, Inc. common stock;(ii)A pre-tax expense of $50 million related to a pledge to The Limited Brands Foundation; and(iii)A tax benefit of $11 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[8] Operating Loss for the Other segment includes the effect of the following items:(i)In 2012, a $93 million impairment charge related to goodwill and other intangible assets for our La Senza business; a $27 million impairment charge related to long-lived store assets for our Henri Bendel business; and $14 million of expense associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.(ii)In 2011, a $232 million impairment charge related to goodwill and other intangible assets for our La Senza business; a $111 million gain related to the divestiture of 51% of our third-party apparel sourcing business; $163 million of expense related to the charitable contribution of our remaining shares of Express, Inc. to The Limited Brands Foundation; and $24 million of restructuring expenses at La Senza. In the fourth quarter of 2011, we divested 51% of our third-party apparel sourcing business, which was included in Other in the table above. For additional information, see Note 9, "Equity Investments and Other."

[9] Due to changes in stock prices during the year and timing of issuances and repurchases of shares, the cumulative total of quarterly net income per share amounts may not equal the net income per share for the year.

[10] (a)Due to changes in stock prices during the year and timing of issuances and repurchases of shares, the cumulative total of quarterly net income per share amounts may not equal the net income per share for the year.