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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Nov. 01, 2014
Jan. 31, 2015
Store
Feb. 01, 2014
Store
Feb. 02, 2013
Store
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Number of reportable segments   1us-gaap_NumberOfReportableSegments    
Long-term Investments   $ 0us-gaap_LongTermInvestments $ 0us-gaap_LongTermInvestments  
Net impairment loss recognized in earnings   0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet 0us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Asset impairment charges   33,468,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 44,465,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 34,869,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Finite-lived impairment charges   0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Prepaid advertising expense   6,600,000us-gaap_PrepaidAdvertising 9,000,000us-gaap_PrepaidAdvertising  
Advertising expense   94,200,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 87,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 90,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Revenue related to gift card breakage   7,000,000us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionGiftCardsBreakage 7,300,000us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionGiftCardsBreakage 8,900,000us-gaap_RevenueRecognitionGiftCardsBreakage
Number of operating segments   3us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments    
Warrendale facility        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Asset impairment charges     19,300,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_FacilityClosingMember
 
Noncash Corporate Office And Other Asset Impairments Charges        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Asset impairment charges 8,400,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aeo_NoncashCorporateOfficeAndOtherAssetImpairmentsChargesMember
8,400,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= aeo_NoncashCorporateOfficeAndOtherAssetImpairmentsChargesMember
   
Segment, Discontinued Operations        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Asset impairment charges 25,100,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
25,100,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
25,200,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
34,900,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Number of stores impaired   79aeo_NumberOfStoresImpaired
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
69aeo_NumberOfStoresImpaired
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
52aeo_NumberOfStoresImpaired
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
Segment, Discontinued Operations | 77 kids stores        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Asset impairment charges       $ 16,623,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= us-gaap_SegmentDiscontinuedOperationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= aeo_StoreOneMember
Minimum        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Finite lived intangibles, useful life   15 years    
Maximum        
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]        
Finite lived intangibles, useful life   25 years