Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, Comprehensive Income and Redeemable Non-controlling Interest (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Redeemable Non-controlling Interest	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Non controlling interest	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Beginning Balance at Jan. 03, 2009	$ 788,741	$ 0	$ 501	$ 631,891	$ 12,841	$ 268,016	$ (125,562)	$ 1,054
Comprehensive income:
Net Income	98,498							2,500	98,498
Net income attributable to Warnaco Group	95,998					95,998
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	35,573				35,360			213	35,573
Change in post retirement plans	(1,029)				(1,029)				(1,029)
Change on cash flow hedges	(699)				(699)				(699)
Other	16							16	16
Other comprehensive income (loss)	33,861							229	33,861
Comprehensive income	132,359							2,729	132,359
Correction of adjustment to initially adopt accounting for uncertain tax positions	(1,201)					(1,201)
Purchase of 49% of non-controlling interest	(17,410)			(17,645)				235
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest	(4,018)							(4,018)
Stock issued in connection with stock compensation plans	4,684		5	4,679
Compensation expense in connection with employee stock compensation plans	14,453			14,453
Purchase of treasury stock related to stock compensation plans	(1,498)						(1,498)
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest	2,500
Ending Balance at Jan. 02, 2010	916,110	0	506	633,378	46,473	362,813	(127,060)	0
Comprehensive income:
Net Income	138,581
Net income attributable to Warnaco Group	138,581					138,581			138,581
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(2,576)				(2,576)				(2,576)
Change in post retirement plans	(41)				(41)				(41)
Change on cash flow hedges	(820)				(820)				(820)
Other	12				12				12
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,425)								(3,425)
Comprehensive income	135,156								135,156
Tax benefit related to exercise of equity awards	1,069			1,069
Stock issued in connection with stock compensation plans	17,486		11	17,475
Compensation expense in connection with employee stock compensation plans	22,586			22,586
Purchase of treasury stock related to stock compensation plans	(3,415)						(3,415)
Repurchases of common stock	(116,386)						(116,386)
Ending Balance at Jan. 01, 2011	972,606	0	517	674,508	43,048	501,394	(246,861)	0
Comprehensive income:
Net Income	127,193
Net income attributable to Warnaco Group	127,450					127,450			127,450
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(24,626)				(24,626)				(24,626)
Change in post retirement plans	(200)				(200)				(200)
Change on cash flow hedges	(2,090)				(2,090)				(2,090)
Other	110				110				110
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(26,806)								(26,806)
Comprehensive income	100,644								100,644
Tax benefit related to exercise of equity awards	12,055			12,055
Stock issued in connection with stock compensation plans	10,067		5	10,062
Compensation expense in connection with employee stock compensation plans	24,731			24,731
Purchase of treasury stock related to stock compensation plans	(2,701)						(2,701)
Repurchases of common stock	(217,118)						(217,118)
Acquisition date fair value of redeemable non-controlling interest in joint venture in India		15,200
Net loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest	(257)	(257)
Foreign currency translations adjustments attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest		(2,827)
Adjustment to redemption value	(3,084)	3,084				(3,084)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 897,200	$ 15,200	$ 522	$ 721,356	$ 16,242	$ 625,760	$ (466,680)	$ 0	$ 0