-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LNN3FpG0ITS9TK7VUV1C5FQozoD4ACd0Z8L3Y2yrzSBaWpwav+7ObUksg1lirtyX
 LeZKejs5VbEkT9Snk/xQwA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001214251-08-000003.txt : 20081217
<SEC-HEADER>0001214251-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20081217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081217172020
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001214251-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PHILLIPS VAN HEUSEN CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000078239
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHINGS, WORK CLOTHING, AND ALLIED GARMENTS [2320]
		IRS NUMBER:				131166910
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123813500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10016

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAGGIN BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214251

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07572
		FILM NUMBER:		081255822

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8 LAWRENCE FARMS CROSSWAY
		CITY:			CHAPPAQUA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10514
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000078239</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHILLIPS VAN HEUSEN CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PVH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214251</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAGGIN BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE H.A.M. MEDIA GROUP, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 287</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHAPPAQUA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10514</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21835</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Gift to 501(c)(3) Charity.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 17,375 shares of Issuer's Common Stock owned outright by reporting person and 4,460 shares of Common Stock subject to awards of restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce Maggin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----