Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 671,130	$ 649,503	$ 1,352,735	$ 1,320,225
Net sales, percent	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Cost of goods sold	319,658	293,361	618,372	577,239
Cost of goods sold, percent	47.60%	45.20%	45.70%	43.70%
Gross margin	351,472	356,142	734,363	742,986
Gross margin, percent	52.40%	54.80%	54.30%	56.30%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	304,737	286,262	623,786	591,161
Selling, general and administrative expenses, percent	45.40%	44.00%	46.10%	44.70%
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	914
Acquisition and integration costs, percent	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.10%
Income from operations	46,735	69,880	110,577	150,911
Income from operations, percent	7.00%	10.80%	8.20%	11.50%
Interest income (expense), net	(9)	108	31	299
Interest income (expense), net, percent	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Income before income taxes	46,726	69,988	110,608	151,210
Income before income taxes, percent	7.00%	10.80%	8.20%	11.50%
Income tax provision	16,600	26,400	40,600	56,500
Income tax provision, percent	2.50%	4.10%	3.00%	4.30%
Net income	30,126	43,588	70,008	94,710
Net income, percent	4.50%	6.70%	5.20%	7.20%
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.46	$ 0.58
Net income per common and common equivalent share–diluted	$ 0.20	$ 0.27	$ 0.46	$ 0.58
Weighted average common shares outstanding–basic	148,694	156,589	148,584	157,379
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding–diluted	149,218	157,573	149,127	158,322
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.075	$ 0.055	$ 0.225	$ 0.165
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	431,888	414,734	872,009	839,395
Net sales, percent	64.30%	63.80%	64.40%	63.60%
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	213,914	205,090	431,087	425,488
Net sales, percent	31.90%	31.60%	31.90%	32.20%
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 25,328	$ 29,679	$ 49,639	$ 55,342
Net sales, percent	3.80%	4.60%	3.70%	4.20%