Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 665,569	$ 655,579	$ 2,018,304	$ 1,975,804
Net sales, percent	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Cost of goods sold	301,776	291,569	920,148	868,808
Cost of goods sold, percent	45.30%	44.50%	45.60%	44.00%
Gross margin	363,793	364,010	1,098,156	1,106,996
Gross margin, percent	54.70%	55.50%	54.40%	56.00%
Selling, general and administrative expenses	321,574	308,528	945,360	899,689
Selling, general and administrative expenses, percent	48.30%	47.10%	46.80%	45.50%
Goodwill and trade name impairment charges	0	72,466	0	72,466
Goodwill and trade name impairment charges, percent	0.00%	11.00%	0.00%	3.70%
Acquisition and integration costs	0	0	0	914
Acquisition and integration costs, percent	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Income (loss) from operations	42,219	(16,984)	152,796	133,927
Income from operations, percent	6.40%	(2.60%)	7.60%	6.80%
Interest income, net	44	105	75	404
Interest income (expense), net, percent	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Income (loss) before income taxes	42,263	(16,879)	152,871	134,331
Income before income taxes, percent	6.40%	(2.60%)	7.60%	6.80%
Income tax provision	15,800	11,600	56,400	68,100
Income tax provision, percent	2.40%	1.70%	2.80%	3.40%
Net income (loss)	26,463	(28,479)	96,471	66,231
Net income, percent	4.00%	(4.30%)	4.80%	3.40%
Per share data:
Net income (loss) per common share-basic	$ 0.17	$ (0.18)	$ 0.63	$ 0.41
Net income (loss) per common and common equivalent share–diluted	$ 0.17	$ (0.18)	$ 0.63	$ 0.41
Weighted average common shares outstanding–basic	148,564	155,228	148,577	156,662
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding–diluted	149,037	155,228	149,093	157,604
Dividends declared per share	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.225	$ 0.165
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	418,230	415,819	1,290,239	1,255,214
Net sales, percent	62.90%	63.40%	63.90%	63.50%
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	224,552	218,200	655,639	643,688
Net sales, percent	33.70%	33.30%	32.50%	32.60%
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 22,787	$ 21,560	$ 72,426	$ 76,902
Net sales, percent	3.40%	3.30%	3.60%	3.90%