Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Merchandise sales and services	$ 8,452	$ 9,270
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy	6,296	6,703
Selling and administrative	2,218	2,445
Depreciation and amortization	191	202
Impairment charges	8	0
Gain on sales of assets	(14)	(395)
Total costs and expenses	8,699	8,955
Operating income (loss)	(247)	315
Interest expense	(61)	(66)
Interest and investment income	7	12
Income (loss) before income taxes	(301)	261
Income tax (expense) benefit	9	(67)
Equity in earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	(292)	194
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	13	(5)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO HOLDINGS’ SHAREHOLDERS	(279)	189
Parent
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Merchandise sales and services	0	0
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy	0	0
Selling and administrative	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Impairment charges	0
Gain on sales of assets	0	0
Total costs and expenses	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Interest expense	(55)	(56)
Interest and investment income	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	(55)	(56)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	19
Equity in earnings in subsidiaries	(237)	231
Net income (loss)	(292)	194
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO HOLDINGS’ SHAREHOLDERS	(292)	194
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Merchandise sales and services	7,578	8,310
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy	5,767	6,099
Selling and administrative	2,087	2,283
Depreciation and amortization	144	153
Impairment charges	8
Gain on sales of assets	(14)	(233)
Total costs and expenses	7,992	8,302
Operating income (loss)	(414)	8
Interest expense	(94)	(96)
Interest and investment income	9	11
Income (loss) before income taxes	(499)	(77)
Income tax (expense) benefit	49	(18)
Equity in earnings in subsidiaries	127	244
Net income (loss)	(323)	149
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO HOLDINGS’ SHAREHOLDERS	(323)	149
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Merchandise sales and services	1,695	1,826
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy	912	1,030
Selling and administrative	569	602
Depreciation and amortization	47	49
Impairment charges	0
Gain on sales of assets	0	(162)
Total costs and expenses	1,528	1,519
Operating income (loss)	167	307
Interest expense	(26)	(27)
Interest and investment income	112	114
Income (loss) before income taxes	253	394
Income tax (expense) benefit	(40)	(68)
Equity in earnings in subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	213	326
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO HOLDINGS’ SHAREHOLDERS	213	326
Eliminations
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Merchandise sales and services	(821)	(866)
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy	(383)	(426)
Selling and administrative	(438)	(440)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0
Impairment charges	0
Gain on sales of assets	0	0
Total costs and expenses	(821)	(866)
Operating income (loss)	0	0
Interest expense	114	113
Interest and investment income	(114)	(113)
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0
Equity in earnings in subsidiaries	110	(475)
Net income (loss)	110	(475)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	13	(5)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO HOLDINGS’ SHAREHOLDERS	$ 123	$ (480)