Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	May 01, 2010	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,669,574	$ 1,138,286	$ 1,167,135	$ 1,227,274	$ 1,518,943	$ 1,055,830	$ 1,142,309	$ 1,235,162	$ 5,202,269	$ 4,952,244	$ 4,726,772
Gross margin	671,382	444,360	460,536	494,129	619,964	428,107	462,425	501,955	2,070,407	2,012,451	1,919,306
Income from continuing operations	114,749	4,241	35,714	52,531	110,025	17,745	38,779	55,998	207,235	222,547	201,370
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit	(29)	(51)	(31)	(60)	30	(51)	98	(100)	(171)	(23)	(1,001)
Net income	$ 114,720	$ 4,190	$ 35,683	$ 52,471	$ 110,055	$ 17,694	$ 38,877	$ 55,898	$ 207,064	$ 222,524	$ 200,369
Continuing operations	$ 1.79	$ 0.07	$ 0.51	$ 0.71	$ 1.48	$ 0.24	$ 0.49	$ 0.69	$ 3.03	$ 2.87	$ 2.47
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Earnings per common share - basic	$ 1.79	$ 0.06	$ 0.51	$ 0.71	$ 1.48	$ 0.23	$ 0.49	$ 0.69	$ 3.03	$ 2.87	$ 2.45
Continuing operations	$ 1.75	$ 0.06	$ 0.50	$ 0.70	$ 1.46	$ 0.23	$ 0.48	$ 0.68	$ 2.99	$ 2.83	$ 2.44
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Earnings per common share - diluted	$ 1.75	$ 0.06	$ 0.50	$ 0.70	$ 1.46	$ 0.23	$ 0.48	$ 0.68	$ 2.98	$ 2.83	$ 2.42