SUPPLEMENTAL CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 147.1	$ 306.5
Accounts receivable	458.6	506.4	339.6
Inventories	473.0	452.6	491.1
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	0	0.5	11.9
Deferred taxes	34.6	31.3	26.4
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	54.6		47.7
Total current assets	1,167.9	1,336.3	1,155.5
Property, plant and equipment	273.0	245.0	271.4
Goodwill	258.5	161.8	255.3
Other intangibles	900.9	725.0	897.4
Investments in and loan to subsidiaries	36.2	42.6	35.6
Other assets	98.7	94.8	100.1
Total assets	2,735.2	2,605.5	2,715.3
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	2.1	1.9	2.0
Current portion of acquisition consideration payable	228.3		194.1
Accounts payable	244.7	177.1	236.2
Income taxes payable	11.5	0.2	1.4
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	125.3		146.3
Total current liabilities	611.9	325.4	580.0
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	832.4	809.6	831.4
Obligations under capital leases	22.8	24.7	23.3
Income taxes payable	0.5	6.4	6.7
Deferred taxes	74.9	14.0	73.4
Acquisition consideration payable	5.8		17.7
Other	93.1	71.0	93.4
Total liabilities	1,641.4	1,444.6	1,625.9
EQUITY:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital	527.7		522.6
Retained earnings	586.2	620.0	596.2
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(20.3)	(5.4)	(29.6)
Total Jones stockholders' equity	1,093.6	1,160.7	1,089.2
Noncontrolling interest	0.2	0.2	0.2
Total equity	1,093.8	1,160.9	1,089.4	1,138.3
Total liabilities and equity	2,735.2	2,605.5	2,715.3
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	923.4	949.0
Licensing income	12.3	12.1
Other revenues	0.3	0.2
Total revenues	936.0	961.3
Cost of goods sold	592.5	630.6
Gross profit	343.5	330.7
Selling, general and administrative expenses	303.3	269.5
Operating (loss) income	40.2	61.2
Net interest expense (income) and financing costs	42.7	21.1
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate	0.9	1.3
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(1.6)	41.4
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(0.6)	15.5
Net (loss) income	(1.0)	25.9
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.2	0.2
(Loss) income attributable to Jones	(1.2)	25.7
Other comprehensive income:
Change in fair value of cash flow hegdes, net of tax	(0.1)	(0.4)
Reclassification adjustment for hedge gains and losses included in net income, net of tax	0	0.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9.4	3.3
Total other comprehensive income	9.3	3.0
Comprehensive income	8.3	28.9
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(59.8)	(136.8)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(18.2)	(32.9)
Other	(0.2)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(18.4)	(32.9)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2019	0	300.0
Debt issuance costs	0	(6.4)
Dividends paid	(4.0)	(4.3)
Repurchase of of common shares	(8.9)	(10.0)
Payments of acquisition consideration payable	(2.0)	(4.2)
Other items, net	1.5	1.0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(13.4)	276.1
Effect of exchange rates on cash	(0.1)	(0.7)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(91.7)	105.7
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	238.8	200.8
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	147.1	306.5
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Inventories	(1.2)		(0.3)
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	(5.5)		1.7
Total current assets	(6.7)		1.4
Due from affiliates	(1,620.8)		(1,604.4)
Deferred taxes	(85.4)		(80.6)
Investments in and loan to subsidiaries	(3,093.6)		(3,047.9)
Total assets	(4,806.5)		(4,731.5)
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Income taxes payable	(25.7)		(18.1)
Total current liabilities	(25.7)		(18.1)
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Deferred taxes	(91.4)		(86.6)
Due to affiliates	(1,620.8)		(1,604.4)
Total liabilities	(1,737.9)		(1,709.1)
EQUITY:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital	(2,352.4)		(2,352.4)
Retained earnings	(715.5)		(680.2)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(0.7)		10.2
Total Jones stockholders' equity	(3,068.6)		(3,022.4)
Total equity	(3,068.6)		(3,022.4)
Total liabilities and equity	(4,806.5)		(4,731.5)
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	(6.8)	(4.8)
Total revenues	(6.8)	(4.8)
Cost of goods sold	(3.7)	(1.5)
Gross profit	(3.1)	(3.3)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(2.2)	(3.3)
Operating (loss) income	(0.9)	0
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(0.9)	0
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(0.4)	0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(39.9)	(53.5)
Net (loss) income	(40.4)	(53.5)
(Loss) income attributable to Jones	(40.4)	(53.5)
Other comprehensive income:
Change in fair value of cash flow hegdes, net of tax	0.1	0.4
Reclassification adjustment for hedge gains and losses included in net income, net of tax	0	(0.1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(9.4)	(3.3)
Total other comprehensive income	(9.3)	(3.0)
Comprehensive income	(49.7)	(56.5)
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(2.8)	(10.6)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	2.8	10.6
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	2.8	10.6
Issuers [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	113.2	280.6
Accounts receivable	266.6		182.9
Inventories	279.5		270.5
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	5.0		5.3
Deferred taxes	21.2		13.2
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	22.3		21.5
Total current assets	707.8		689.2
Property, plant and equipment	62.7		64.9
Goodwill	46.7		46.7
Other intangibles	6.7		6.9
Deferred taxes	85.4		80.6
Investments in and loan to subsidiaries	3,093.6		3,047.9
Other assets	78.0		79.3
Total assets	4,080.9		4,015.5
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of acquisition consideration payable	226.9		192.7
Accounts payable	164.4		139.7
Income taxes payable	25.6		11.2
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	65.4		79.0
Total current liabilities	482.3		422.6
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	832.3		831.3
Income taxes payable	0.5		6.7
Acquisition consideration payable	5.8		17.7
Due to affiliates	1,620.8		1,604.4
Other	69.1		67.7
Total liabilities	3,010.8		2,950.4
EQUITY:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital	527.7		522.6
Retained earnings	562.7		572.1
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(20.3)		(29.6)
Total Jones stockholders' equity	1,070.1		1,065.1
Total equity	1,070.1		1,065.1
Total liabilities and equity	4,080.9		4,015.5
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	570.6	617.6
Other revenues	0.3	0.2
Total revenues	570.9	617.8
Cost of goods sold	377.3	408.2
Gross profit	193.6	209.6
Selling, general and administrative expenses	206.7	220.7
Operating (loss) income	(13.1)	(11.1)
Net interest expense (income) and financing costs	43.2	22.6
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(56.3)	(33.7)
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	(15.9)	(5.9)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	39.9	53.5
Net (loss) income	(0.5)	25.7
(Loss) income attributable to Jones	(0.5)	25.7
Other comprehensive income:
Change in fair value of cash flow hegdes, net of tax	(0.1)	(0.4)
Reclassification adjustment for hedge gains and losses included in net income, net of tax	0	0.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9.4	3.3
Total other comprehensive income	9.3	3.0
Comprehensive income	8.8	28.7
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(67.9)	(145.0)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(3.9)	(18.2)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3.9)	(18.2)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2019	0	300.0
Debt issuance costs	0	(6.4)
Dividends paid	(4.0)	(4.3)
Repurchase of of common shares	(8.9)	(10.0)
Other items, net	2.1	1.5
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(10.8)	280.8
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(82.6)	117.6
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	195.8	163.0
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	113.2	280.6
Others [Member]
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	33.9	25.9
Accounts receivable	192.0		156.7
Inventories	194.7		220.9
Prepaid and refundable income taxes	0.5		4.9
Deferred taxes	13.4		13.2
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	32.3		26.2
Total current assets	466.8		464.9
Property, plant and equipment	210.3		206.5
Due from affiliates	1,620.8		1,604.4
Goodwill	211.8		208.6
Other intangibles	894.2		890.5
Investments in and loan to subsidiaries	36.2		35.6
Other assets	20.7		20.8
Total assets	3,460.8		3,431.3
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	2.1		2.0
Current portion of acquisition consideration payable	1.4		1.4
Accounts payable	80.3		96.5
Income taxes payable	11.6		8.3
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	59.9		67.3
Total current liabilities	155.3		175.5
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt	0.1		0.1
Obligations under capital leases	22.8		23.3
Deferred taxes	166.3		160.0
Other	24.0		25.7
Total liabilities	368.5		384.6
EQUITY:
Common stock and additional paid-in capital	2,352.4		2,352.4
Retained earnings	739.0		704.3
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	0.7		(10.2)
Total Jones stockholders' equity	3,092.1		3,046.5
Noncontrolling interest	0.2		0.2
Total equity	3,092.3		3,046.7
Total liabilities and equity	3,460.8		3,431.3
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net sales	359.6	336.2
Licensing income	12.3	12.1
Total revenues	371.9	348.3
Cost of goods sold	218.9	223.9
Gross profit	153.0	124.4
Selling, general and administrative expenses	98.8	52.1
Operating (loss) income	54.2	72.3
Net interest expense (income) and financing costs	(0.5)	(1.5)
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliate	0.9	1.3
(Loss) income before (benefit) provision for income taxes and equity in earnings of subsidiaries	55.6	75.1
(Benefit) provision for income taxes	15.7	21.4
Net (loss) income	39.9	53.7
Less: income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0.2	0.2
(Loss) income attributable to Jones	39.7	53.5
Other comprehensive income:
Change in fair value of cash flow hegdes, net of tax	(0.1)	(0.4)
Reclassification adjustment for hedge gains and losses included in net income, net of tax	0	0.1
Foreign currency translation adjustments	9.4	3.3
Total other comprehensive income	9.3	3.0
Comprehensive income	49.2	56.7
Condensed Consolidating Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	10.9	18.8
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(14.3)	(14.7)
Other	(0.2)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(14.5)	(14.7)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(2.8)	(10.6)
Payments of acquisition consideration payable	(2.0)	(4.2)
Other items, net	(0.6)	(0.5)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(5.4)	(15.3)
Effect of exchange rates on cash	(0.1)	(0.7)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(9.1)	(11.9)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning	43.0	37.8
Cash and cash equivalents, ending	$ 33.9	$ 25.9