Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Net Sales:
Net income	$ 43,588	$ 53,395	$ 94,710	$ 107,040
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.58	$ 0.64
Net income per common and common equivalent share-diluted	$ 0.27	$ 0.32	$ 0.58	$ 0.64
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	156,589,110,000	163,822,041,000	157,378,652,000	163,897,542,000
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding-diluted	157,572,615,000	164,732,275,000	158,321,720,000	164,833,514,000
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.055	$ 0.0525	$ 0.165	$ 0.1575
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	414,734	414,618	839,395	839,960
Item as percentage net sales	63.80%	64.60%	63.60%	65.00%
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	205,090	194,498	425,488	386,225
Item as percentage net sales	31.60%	30.30%	32.20%	29.90%
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	29,679	32,606	55,342	66,354
Item as percentage net sales	4.60%	5.10%	4.20%	5.10%
Sales [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	649,503	641,722	1,320,225	1,292,539
Item as percentage net sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]
Net Sales:
Cost of goods sold	293,361	279,542	577,239	551,763
Item as percentage net sales	45.20%	43.60%	43.70%	42.70%
Gross Margin [Member]
Net Sales:
Gross margin	356,142	362,180	742,986	740,776
Item as percentage net sales	54.80%	56.40%	56.30%	57.30%
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]
Net Sales:
Selling, General and Administrative Expense	286,262	276,121	591,161	567,797
Item as percentage net sales	44.00%	43.00%	44.70%	43.90%
Acquisition and Integration Costs [Member]
Net Sales:
Acquisition and integration costs		283	914	841
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.00%	0.10%	0.10%
Income From Operations [Member]
Net Sales:
Income from operations	69,880	85,776	150,911	172,138
Item as percentage net sales	10.80%	13.40%	11.50%	13.30%
Interest Income, Net [Member]
Net Sales:
Interest income, net	108	219	299	402
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Income Before Income Taxes [Member]
Net Sales:
Income before income taxes	69,988	85,995	151,210	172,540
Item as percentage net sales	10.80%	13.40%	11.50%	13.30%
Income Tax Provision [Member]
Net Sales:
Income tax provision	26,400	32,600	56,500	65,500
Item as percentage net sales	4.10%	5.10%	4.30%	5.00%
Net Income [Member]
Net Sales:
Net income	$ 43,588	$ 53,395	$ 94,710	$ 107,040
Item as percentage net sales	6.70%	8.30%	7.20%	8.30%