CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 476,310	$ 415,120	$ 979,898	$ 864,657
Cost of sales	(320,758)	(289,402)	(652,196)	(591,574)
Operating expenses	(106,628)	(86,686)	(219,247)	(185,631)
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	(22,943)	17,173	(77,819)	(14,162)
Operating profit	25,981	56,205	30,636	73,290
Interest expense	(5,636)	(3,320)	(9,428)	(6,697)
Interest income	718	375	1,365	1,413
Interest expense, net	(4,918)	(2,945)	(8,063)	(5,284)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	21,063	53,260	22,573	68,006
Income tax benefit (provision)	124,640	(17,630)	99,701	(29,806)
Income from continuing operations	145,703	35,630	122,274	38,200
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax - Value City	168	(35)	168	(35)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax - Filene's Basement	0	162	0	3,005
Total income from discontinued operations, net of tax	168	127	168	2,970
Net income	145,871	35,757	122,442	41,170
Less: net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(6,001)	(8,851)	(20,695)	(20,214)
Net income, net of noncontrolling interests	139,870	26,906	101,747	20,956
Basic and diluted earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations, net of noncontrolling interests (in dollars per share)	$ 4.05	$ 1.26	$ 3.60	$ 0.84
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, net of noncontrolling interests (in dollars per share)	$ 3.95	$ 1.00	$ 3.54	$ 0.84
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.14
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.14
Basic earnings per share, net of noncontrolling interests (in dollars per share)	$ 4.05	$ 1.26	$ 3.61	$ 0.98
Diluted earnings per share, net of noncontrolling interests (in dollars per share)	$ 3.96	$ 1.00	$ 3.54	$ 0.98
Shares used in per share calculations:
Basic (in shares)	34,522	21,328	28,211	21,325
Diluted (in shares)	35,360	22,259	28,705	21,446
Income from continuing operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interests:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax and noncontrolling interests	139,702	26,779	101,579	17,986
Discontinued operations, net of tax	168	127	168	2,970
Net income	$ 139,870	$ 26,906	$ 101,747	$ 20,956