Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Balance at Jan. 30, 2010	$ 1,001,412	$ 1,175	$ (791,042)	$ 515,061	$ 1,289,353	$ (13,135)
Treasury stock (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2010			35,573,000
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2010		81,922,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	94,775	0	0	0	94,775	0
Other comprehensive income
Amortization of pension, net of tax	657	0	0	0	0	657
Comprehensive income	95,432	0	0	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares	(242,460)	0	(242,460)	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares, (in shares)		(6,285,000)	6,285,000
Exercise of stock options	29,957	0	38,755	(8,798)	0	0
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		1,668,000	(1,668,000)
Restricted shares vested	0	0	20,345	(20,345)	0	0
Restricted shares vested, (in shares)		844,000	(844,000)
Tax benefit from share-based awards	13,314	0	0	13,314	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan	61	0	9	52	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan (in shares)		2,000	(2,000)
Share-based employee compensation expense	13,956	0	0	13,956	0	0
Balance at Jul. 31, 2010	911,672	1,175	(974,393)	513,240	1,384,128	(12,478)
Balance (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2010		78,151,000
Treasury stock (in shares) at Jul. 31, 2010			39,344,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	127,749	0	0	0	127,749	0
Other comprehensive income
Amortization of pension, net of tax	671	0	0	0	0	671
Valuation adjustment of pension, net of tax	1,337	0	0	0	0	1,337
Comprehensive income	129,757	0	0	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares	(108,363)	0	(108,363)	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares, (in shares)		(4,401,000)	4,401,000
Exercise of stock options	2,555	0	3,530	(975)	0	0
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		140,000	(140,000)
Restricted shares vested	0	0	92	(92)	0	0
Restricted shares vested, (in shares)		3,000	(3,000)
Tax benefit from share-based awards	465	0	0	465	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan	35	0	4	31	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan (in shares)		1,000	(1,000)
Share-based employee compensation expense	10,672	0	0	10,672	0	0
Balance at Jan. 29, 2011	946,793	1,175	(1,079,130)	523,341	1,511,877	(10,470)
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 29, 2011	73,894,000	73,894,000
Treasury stock (in shares) at Jan. 29, 2011	43,601,000		43,601,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	88,154	0	0	0	88,154	0
Other comprehensive income
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	(45)	0	0	0	0	(45)
Amortization of pension, net of tax	535	0	0	0	0	535
Comprehensive income	88,644	0	0	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares	(240,654)	0	(240,654)	0	0	0
Purchases of common shares, (in shares)		(7,329,000)	7,329,000
Exercise of stock options	6,039	0	7,605	(1,566)	0	0
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		302,000	(302,000)
Restricted shares vested	0	0	6,731	(6,731)	0	0
Restricted shares vested, (in shares)		271,000	(271,000)
Tax benefit from share-based awards	2,077	0	0	2,077	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan	120	0	13	107	0	0
Share activity related to deferred compensation plan (in shares)		1,000	(1,000)
Share-based employee compensation expense	13,528	0	0	13,528	0	0
Balance at Jul. 30, 2011	$ 816,547	$ 1,175	$ (1,305,435)	$ 530,756	$ 1,600,031	$ (9,980)
Balance (in shares) at Jul. 30, 2011	67,139,000	67,139,000
Treasury stock (in shares) at Jul. 30, 2011	50,356,000		50,356,000