Commitments and Contingencies - Rent expense (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Disclosure - Rent expense [Abstract]
Minimum rent	$ 212,042	$ 218,640	$ 212,947
Percentage rent	1,227	1,782	2,911
Total	$ 213,269ann_OperatingLeasesRentExpenses	$ 220,422ann_OperatingLeasesRentExpenses	$ 215,858ann_OperatingLeasesRentExpenses

The increases or decreases in lease payments that result from changes occurring after the inception of the lease in the factors (other than the passage of time) on which lease payments are based related to overage, but not, base rental amounts, except that any escalation of minimum lease payments relating to increases in construction or acquisition cost of the leased property or for increases in some measure of cost or value during the construction or preconstruction period, are excluded from contingent rentals. Contingent rentals also may include amounts for which the triggering events have not yet occurred or the specified targets for which have not yet been achieved (such as sales based percentage rent), but which events are considered probable of occurring or which specified targets are considered probable of being achieved. In this case, overage rent is rent that is paid over and above base rent because sales are over the breakpoint as determined in the applicable agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	ann_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseOverageContingentRentals
Namespace Prefix:	ann_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration