Condensed Consolidating Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	$ 753,607	$ 725,998
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	419,142	406,064
Gross margin	334,465	319,934
Selling, general and administrative expenses	190,024	178,371
Other operating expenses	78,389	78,128
Store pre-opening costs	846	134
Impairments And Dispositions	310	2,868
OPERATING INCOME	64,896	60,433
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	0	0
Interest expense	(9,407)	(13,596)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(539)
Other income, net	823	533
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	56,312	46,831
Provision for income taxes	24,167	18,422
NET INCOME	32,145	28,409
Saks Incorporated [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Gross margin	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	398	371
Other operating expenses	5	5
OPERATING INCOME	(403)	(376)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	36,740	35,758
Interest expense	(7,958)	(12,076)
Loss on extinguishment of debt		(539)
Other income, net	823	533
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	29,202	23,300
Provision for income taxes	(2,943)	(5,109)
NET INCOME	32,145	28,409
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
NET SALES	753,607	725,998
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	419,142	406,064
Gross margin	334,465	319,934
Selling, general and administrative expenses	189,626	178,000
Other operating expenses	78,384	78,123
Store pre-opening costs	846	134
Impairments And Dispositions	310	2,868
OPERATING INCOME	65,299	60,809
Interest expense	(1,449)	(1,520)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	63,850	59,289
Provision for income taxes	27,110	23,531
NET INCOME	36,740	35,758
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information [Line Items]
Gross margin	0	0
OPERATING INCOME	0	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(36,740)	(35,758)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(36,740)	(35,758)
NET INCOME	$ (36,740)	$ (35,758)