Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2011	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010	May 01, 2010	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Earnings per Share
Net earnings attributable to Guess?, Inc.	$ 95,866	$ 66,295	$ 60,657	$ 42,682	$ 103,326	$ 69,089	$ 66,758	$ 50,335	$ 265,500	$ 289,508	$ 242,761
Less net earnings attributable to nonvested restricted stockholders									2,074	2,803	3,498
Net earnings attributable to common stockholders									$ 263,426	$ 286,705	$ 239,263
Weighted average common shares used in basic computations									91,533,000	91,410,000	90,893,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options and restricted stock units (in shares)									415,000	705,000	699,000
Weighted average common shares used in diluted computations									91,948,000	92,115,000	91,592,000
Net earnings per common share attributable to common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.71	$ 0.65	$ 0.46	$ 1.12	$ 0.75	$ 0.72	$ 0.54	$ 2.88	$ 3.14	$ 2.63
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.71	$ 0.65	$ 0.46	$ 1.11	$ 0.75	$ 0.72	$ 0.54	$ 2.86	$ 3.11	$ 2.61
Anti-dilutive equity awards excluded from computation of diluted weighted-average common shares									935,712	697,351	1,391,350