Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2014	May 04, 2013
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 681,605	$ 670,722
Cost of goods sold	298,714	283,878
Gross margin	382,891	386,844
Selling, general and administrative expenses	319,049	304,899
Acquisition and integration costs		914
Income from operations	63,842	81,031
Interest income, net	40	191
Income before income taxes	63,882	81,222
Income tax provision	24,000	30,100
Net income	39,882	51,122
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$ 0.26	$ 0.31
Net income per common share: Diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.31
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	148,475	158,584
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding-diluted	149,044	159,536
Dividends declared per share	$ 0.15	$ 0.11
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	440,121	424,661
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	217,173	220,398
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 24,311	$ 25,663
Sales [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	100.00%	100.00%
Sales [Member] | Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	64.60%	63.30%
Sales [Member] | White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	31.90%	32.90%
Sales [Member] | Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	3.50%	3.80%
Cost Of Goods Sold [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	43.80%	42.30%
Gross Margin [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	56.20%	57.70%
Selling, General And Administrative Expenses [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	46.80%	45.50%
Acquisition And Integration Costs [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.10%
Income (Loss) From Operations [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	9.40%	12.10%
Interest Income, Net [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	0.00%	0.00%
Income (Loss) Before Income Taxes [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	9.40%	12.10%
Income Tax Provision [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	3.50%	4.50%
Income Net [Member]
Net Sales:
Item as percentage net sales	5.90%	7.60%