Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012	Nov. 02, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 655,579	$ 636,665	$ 1,975,804	$ 1,929,204
Cost of goods sold	291,569	272,369	868,808	824,132
Gross margin	364,010	364,296	1,106,996	1,105,072
Selling, general and administrative expenses	308,528	297,190	899,689	864,987
Goodwill and trade name impairment charges	72,466		72,466
Acquisition and integration costs		480	914	1,321
Income (loss) from operations	(16,984)	66,626	133,927	238,764
Interest income, net	105	231	404	633
Income (loss) before income taxes	(16,879)	66,857	134,331	239,397
Income tax provision	11,600	25,200	68,100	90,700
Net income (loss)	(28,479)	41,657	66,231	148,697
Per share data:
Net income (loss) per common share-basic	$ (0.18)	$ 0.25	$ 0.41	$ 0.89
Net income (loss) per common share: Diluted	$ (0.18)	$ 0.25	$ 0.41	$ 0.89
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	155,227,618	163,253,220	156,661,641	163,682,768
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding-diluted	155,227,618	164,410,730	157,603,629	164,753,525
Dividends declared per share			$ 0.165	$ 0.1575
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	415,819	411,671	1,255,214	1,251,632
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	218,200	197,248	643,688	583,473
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 21,560	$ 27,746	$ 76,902	$ 94,099
Sales [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Sales [Member] | Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	63.40%	64.60%	63.50%	64.90%
Sales [Member] | White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	33.30%	31.00%	32.60%	30.20%
Sales [Member] | Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	3.30%	4.40%	3.90%	4.90%
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	44.50%	42.80%	44.00%	42.70%
Gross Margin [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	55.50%	57.20%	56.00%	57.30%
Selling, General And Administrative Expenses [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	47.10%	46.70%	45.50%	44.80%
Goodwill And Trade Name Impairment [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	11.00%	0.00%	3.70%	0.00%
Acquisition And Integration Costs [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.10%
Income (Loss) From Operations [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	(2.60%)	10.50%	6.80%	12.40%
Interest Income, Net [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	(2.60%)	10.50%	6.80%	12.40%
Income Tax Provision [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	1.70%	4.00%	3.40%	4.70%
Net Income [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	(4.30%)	6.50%	3.40%	7.70%