Summary of Carrying Amount Of Goodwill, By Reporting Segment And Reporting Unit (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 28, 2012		Jan. 28, 2012		Jul. 30, 2011
Impaired Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 269.8	[1]	$ 269.8	[1]	$ 269.8	[1]
PLG Wholesale | PLG Wholesale Unit
Impaired Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	239.6		239.6		239.6
Payless Domestic | Collective Licensing Unit
Impaired Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 30.2		$ 30.2		$ 30.2

[1] Cumulative goodwill impairment charges total $52.0 million, of which $42.0 million relates to the PLG Retail reporting segment and $10.0 million relates to the Payless Domestic reporting segment.