Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 538,546	$ 483,022	$ 1,627,153	$ 1,429,981
Cost of goods sold	237,038	207,955	698,655	614,128
Gross margin	301,508	275,067	928,498	815,853
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
Store and direct operating expenses	184,414	169,726	549,391	503,226
Marketing	39,008	31,928	90,979	79,019
National Store Support Center	31,100	29,252	99,353	87,035
Acquisition and integration costs	4,985		4,985
Total selling, general and administrative expenses	259,507	230,906	744,708	669,280
Income from operations	42,001	44,161	183,790	146,573
Interest income, net	566	483	1,386	1,327
Income before income taxes	42,567	44,644	185,176	147,900
Income tax provision	16,100	15,800	69,400	53,200
Net income	26,467	28,844	115,776	94,700
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.67	$ 0.53
Net income per common & common equivalent share-diluted	$ 0.16	$ 0.16	$ 0.66	$ 0.53
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	166,518,711	176,215,239	170,912,046	177,027,767
Weighted average common & common equivalent shares outstanding-diluted	167,574,773	177,262,048	172,091,785	178,319,862
Dividends declared per share			$ 0.15	$ 0.12
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	357,208	337,629	1,106,466	993,989
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	170,328	145,393	509,677	435,992
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 11,010		$ 11,010