Income per Common Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Oct. 01, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010
Schedule of Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted by Common Class [Line Items]
Less: allocation to participating securities	$ (656)	$ (540)	$ (1,964)	$ (1,531)
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
Income from continuing operations attributable to Warnaco Group, Inc. common shareholders and participating securities	48,788	41,440	138,886	119,779
Income from continuing operations attributable to Warnaco Group, Inc. common shareholders	48,070	40,900	136,853	118,243
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to Warnaco Group, Inc. common shareholders and participating securities	(4,177)	57	(4,741)	(373)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax attributable to Warnaco Group, Inc. common shareholders	(4,116)	57	(4,672)	(368)
Net income	44,611	41,497	134,145	119,406
Less: allocation to participating securities	(656)	(540)	(1,964)	(1,531)
Net income attributable to Warnaco Group, Inc. common shareholders	43,955	40,957	132,181	117,875
Basic income per common share (see Note 17):
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding used in computing income per common share	41,713,958	44,553,898	43,076,120	44,813,952
Income per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.15	$ 0.92	$ 3.18	$ 2.64
(Loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ (0.10)		$ (0.11)	$ (0.01)
Net income per common share	$ 1.05	$ 0.92	$ 3.07	$ 2.63
Weighted average number of shares and share equivalents used in computing income per common share	42,581,100	45,465,691	44,023,646	45,806,530
Income per common share from continuing operations	$ 1.13	$ 0.90	$ 3.11	$ 2.58
(Loss) per common share from discontinued operations	$ (0.10)		$ (0.11)	$ (0.01)
Net income per common share	$ 1.03	$ 0.90	$ 3.00	$ 2.57
Number of anti-dilutive "out-of-the-money" stock options outstanding	355,200	400,067	327,950	399,067
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units	867,142	911,793	947,526	992,578
Calculation of basic and diluted income per common share (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average restricted stock outstanding	622,969	587,699	639,980	582,190
Segment, Continuing Operations [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted by Common Class [Line Items]
Less: allocation to participating securities	718	540	2,033	1,536
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
Less: allocation to participating securities	718	540	2,033	1,536
Segment, Discontinued Operations [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted by Common Class [Line Items]
Less: allocation to participating securities	(61)		(69)	(5)
Numerator for basic and diluted income per common share:
Less: allocation to participating securities	$ (61)		$ (69)	$ (5)