Other Current Assets, Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities and Deferred Taxes and Other Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011
Other current assets
Prepaid expenses	$ 35,533	$ 32,266	$ 31,212
Current deferred tax asset	22,311	29,392	28,551
Tax receivable	3,363	1,564	149
Other	9,579	7,684	6,175
Total other current assets	70,786	70,906	66,087
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Accrued salary, bonus, sabbatical and vacation	40,702	61,544	40,009
Sales, value added, payroll and property taxes payable	23,497	18,176	19,799
Accrued workers compensation and medical costs	17,884	17,590	17,292
Customer deposits, prepayments and refunds payable	38,392	17,521	36,268
Unredeemed gift certificates	12,833	14,895	12,213
Loyalty program reward certificates	7,045	6,537	6,728
Cash dividends declared	9,214	9,339	6,261
Other	12,283	8,793	13,184
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	161,850	154,395	151,754
Deferred taxes and other liabilities
Deferred rent and landlord incentives	50,805	50,953	49,882
Non-current deferred and other income tax liabilities	34,011	34,812	15,281
Other	13,585	7,093	6,701
Total deferred taxes and other liabilities	$ 98,401	$ 92,858	$ 71,864