QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2016		Oct. 31, 2015		Aug. 01, 2015		May. 02, 2015		Jan. 31, 2015		Nov. 01, 2014		Aug. 02, 2014		May. 03, 2014		Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,112,930		$ 878,572		$ 817,756		$ 709,422		$ 1,119,544		$ 911,453		$ 890,605		$ 822,428		$ 3,518,680	$ 3,744,030	$ 4,116,897
Gross profit	676,345		559,787		509,862		411,549		681,885		567,070		552,956		511,659		2,157,543	2,313,570	2,575,435
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	58,908	[1]	42,285	[2]	612	[3]	(63,246)	[4]	44,388		18,227		12,877		(23,671)		38,559	51,821	54,628
Net income (loss) attributable to A&F	$ 57,741	[1]	$ 41,891	[2]	$ (810)	[3]	$ (63,246)	[4]	$ 44,388	[1]	$ 18,227	[2]	$ 12,877	[3]	$ (23,671)	[4]	$ 35,576	$ 51,821	$ 54,628
Net income (loss) per diluted share attributable to A&F	$ 0.85	[1],[5]	$ 0.60	[2],[5]	$ (0.01)	[3],[5]	$ (0.91)	[4],[5]	$ 0.63	[5]	$ 0.25	[5]	$ 0.17	[5]	$ (0.32)	[5]	$ 0.51	$ 0.71	$ 0.69
Schedule of Items Affecting Comparability [Line Items]
Charges related to asset impairment, lease terminations and store closures, the restructuring of the Gilly Hicks Brand, the Company's profit improvement initiative and certain corporate governance matters	$ 16,000		$ 9,000		$ 9,400		$ 26,100		$ 36,400		$ 12,200		$ 1,200		$ 10,700
Increase (decrease) in net income related to correction of errors	$ 1,900		$ 1,200		$ 2,600				$ 100		$ 800		$ 900		$ 900		$ 1,600	$ 2,200

[1] (5) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2014 included the correction of certain errors relating to prior periods. The impact of the amounts recorded out-of-period adversely impacted net income (loss) attributable to A&F by $0.9 million, $0.9 million, $0.8 million and $0.1 million for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2014, respectively. The Company does not believe these corrections were material to any current or prior interim or annual periods that were affected.

[2] (4) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2015 included the correction of certain errors relating to prior periods. The impact of the amounts recorded out-of-period resulted in a decrease in net income attributable to A&F of $2.6 million and $1.9 million for the second and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2015, respectively, and an increase in net income attributable to A&F of $1.2 million for the third quarter of Fiscal 2015. The Company does not believe these corrections were material to any current or prior interim or annual periods that were affected.

[3] (3) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2014 included certain items related to asset impairment, the Company’s profit improvement initiative, lease termination and store closure costs, restructuring and corporate governance matters. These items adversely impacted net income (loss) attributable to A&F by $10.7 million, $1.2 million, $12.2 million and $36.4 million for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2015, respectively.

[4] (2) Net income (loss) attributable to A&F for Fiscal 2015 included certain items related to inventory write-down, asset impairment, legal settlement charges, store fixture disposal, the Company’s profit improvement initiative, lease termination and store closure costs and restructuring. These items adversely impacted in net income (loss) attributable to A&F by $26.1 million, $9.4 million and $16.0 million for the first, second and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2015, respectively, and increased net income attributable to A&F by $9.0 million for the third quarter of Fiscal 2015.

[5] (1) Net income (loss) per diluted share for each of the quarters was computed using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the quarter while the full year is computed using the average of the weighted average number of shares outstanding each quarter; therefore, the sum of the quarters may not equal the total for the year.