Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011
Net Sales
Commissions from leased departments	$ 48,536	$ 43,184	$ 31,832
Leased department sales	341,778	300,537	233,422
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents	76,561	195,449
Income earned on cash equivalents	451	1,252	551
Merchandise Inventories and Cost of Sales
Consignment merchandise on hand	88,393	93,897
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Shipping and handling costs	28,370	25,363	21,412
Advertising and marketing expense, net of vendor allowances	76,609	59,036	45,465
Impairments and Dispositions
Impairments and dispositions	12,176	10,106	13,085
Long-lived assets, held and used, impairment loss	9,797	5,041	785
Gains (losses) on the disposal of assets	(565)		255
Fair Value Measurements
Long-lived assets, held and used, carrying value of impaired assets	10,361	7,533
Long-lived assets, held and used, fair value of impaired assets	564	2,492
Long-lived assets, held and used, impairment loss	9,797	5,041	785
Operating Leases
Deferred rent liabilities	78,671	66,524
Earnings per Share
Incremental common shares related to convertible notes	21,103	40,889
Interest expense related to convertible notes, net of tax	8,485	16,204	0
Pension Plans
Threshold to amortize net gains and losses	10.00%
Gift Cards
Aggregate liability for unredeemed gift cards	29,781	28,933
Gift cards, total reversal reflected in net sales	2,733	3,112	3,565
Segment Reporting
Number of reportable segments	1
Stock Options [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Vesting period (years)	4 years
Minimum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Contractual term (years)	7 years
Minimum [Member] | Restricted Stock and Performance Shares [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Vesting period (years)	3 years
Maximum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Contractual term (years)	10 years
Maximum [Member] | Restricted Stock and Performance Shares [Member]
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Vesting period (years)	5 years
Building And Building Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	20 years
Building And Building Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	40 years
Fixtures and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	3 years
Fixtures and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	10 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	10 years
Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	20 years
Internally-Developed Software [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	3 years
Internally-Developed Software [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property and Equipment
Useful lives of the assets	10 years
Stores Closing Costs [Member]
Impairments and Dispositions
Impairments and dispositions	2,944	5,065	12,045
Incentive Compensation Program [Member]
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Allowances received from merchandise vendors	35,764	35,657	36,098
Cooperative Advertising and Marketing [Member]
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Advertising and marketing expense, net of vendor allowances	$ 33,799	$ 30,526	$ 29,323