Stockholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012	May 04, 2013 Guess, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	Feb. 02, 2013 Guess, Inc. Stockholders' Equity	May 04, 2013 Noncontrolling Interest	Feb. 02, 2013 Noncontrolling Interest	May 04, 2013 Stockholders' Equity, Total	Feb. 02, 2013 Stockholders' Equity, Total
Stockholders' equity reconciliation
Stockholders' equity, balances at the beginning of the period	$ 1,100,868		$ 1,086,992	$ 1,175,630	$ 13,876	$ 18,635	$ 1,100,868	$ 1,194,265
Net earnings	11,100	27,213	9,916	178,744	1,184	2,742	11,100	181,486
Foreign currency translation adjustment			(24,766)	22,025	352	322	(24,414)	22,347
Gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges, net of income tax			3,700	(6,041)	0	0	3,700	(6,041)
Gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of income tax			59	139	0	0	59	139
SERP prior service cost and actuarial valuation gain (loss) and related amortization, net of income tax			267	4,613	0	0	267	4,613
Issuance of common stock under stock compensation plans, net of tax effect			1,058	1,362	0	0	1,058	1,362
Issuance of stock under Employee Stock Purchase Plan			270	1,186	0	0	270	1,186
Share-based compensation			2,248	16,285	0	0	2,248	16,285
Dividends			(17,128)	(172,792)	0	0	(17,128)	(172,792)
Share repurchases			(22,099)	(140,262)	0	0	(22,099)	(140,262)
Purchase of redeemable noncontrolling interest				4,857		(4,857)		0
Noncontrolling interest capital contribution				0		1,488		1,488
Noncontrolling interest capital distribution				0		(4,237)		(4,237)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest redemption value adjustment			(278)	1,246	0	(217)	(278)	1,029
Stockholders' equity, balances at the end of the period	1,055,651		1,040,239	1,086,992	15,412	13,876	1,055,651	1,100,868
Comprehensive income (loss), income tax effect
Foreign currency translation adjustment, tax effect							7,597	(13,769)
Unrealized gain (loss) on hedges, tax effect							(512)	1,056
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, tax effect							(40)	(85)
SERP prior service cost amortization, curtailment and actuarial valuation loss and related amortization, tax effect	$ (165)	$ (378)					$ (165)	$ (2,855)