Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jul. 28, 2012 H		Jul. 30, 2011		Jul. 28, 2012		Jul. 30, 2011		Jan. 28, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Total number of retail stores operated by company	2,404
Net sales	$ 543,522,000		$ 470,591,000		$ 1,143,666,000		$ 952,093,000
Operating income	16,955,000		1,651,000		52,962,000		27,176,000
Total Assets	1,380,958,000	[1],[2]	1,278,576,000	[1]	1,380,958,000	[1],[2]	1,278,576,000	[1]	1,237,265,000	1,278,576,000	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	15,291,000		13,002,000		30,544,000		25,204,000
Capital expenditures	18,415,000		13,616,000		32,533,000		23,213,000
Pretax accruals for environmental contingencies included in provision for discontinued operations	100,000		1,200,000		400,000		1,600,000
Deferred tax valuation allowance	3,500,000				3,500,000
Effective tax rate, deferred purchase price	32.90%		38.60%		38.10%		40.10%
Decrease in gross tax liability for uncertain tax positions	8,000,000
Minimum number of hours of service of full time employees	1,000
Restricted stock expense	2,500,000		1,600,000		4,700,000		3,200,000
Cash equivalents	100,000				100,000				200,000	100,000
Excess of outstanding checks drawn on zero-balance accounts at domestic banks exceeded book cash balances	48,600,000		33,300,000						39,000,000
Number of customer accounted for more than 6% of Company's total trade receivables balance	0				0
Tenant Allowances	18,400,000				18,400,000				17,600,000	17,400,000
Deferred Rent Credit, Noncurrent	35,800,000				35,800,000				35,200,000	34,000,000
Goodwill	269,310,000		260,363,000		269,310,000		260,363,000		259,759,000
Wholesale and unallocated retail costs of distribution	1,800,000		1,900,000		3,800,000		4,300,000
Gift card breakage recognized as revenue	100,000		100,000		200,000		200,000
Accrued liability for gift cards	9,400,000				9,400,000				10,400,000	7,300,000
Advertising costs	10,400,000		8,400,000		21,100,000		18,100,000
Prepaid Advertising	1,700,000				1,700,000				1,100,000	1,400,000
Cooperative advertising costs	700,000		800,000		1,700,000		1,700,000
Vendor reimbursements of cooperative advertising costs	700,000		900,000		1,600,000		1,800,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income pension liability adjustments	29,600,000				29,600,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income post retirement liability adjustment	300,000				300,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income, foreign currency translation adjustment	2,900,000				2,900,000
Unrealized gain on foreign currency forward accumulated other comprehensive loss, before taxes	100,000
Lids Sports Group [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Goodwill	168,500,000		155,400,000		168,500,000		155,400,000		159,100,000
Schuh Group [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Goodwill	100,000,000		104,200,000		100,000,000		104,200,000		99,900,000
Licensed Brands [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Goodwill	800,000		800,000		800,000		800,000		800,000
Restatement Adjustment [Member] | Journeys Group [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Net sales			17,400,000				43,200,000
Operating income			(2,900,000)				(1,800,000)
Total Assets			28,300,000				28,300,000			28,300,000
Depreciation and amortization			400,000				900,000
Capital expenditures			100,000				100,000
Restricted Stock [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Granted, Shares	194,232		289,407		194,232		289,407
Grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 57.58		$ 45.14		$ 57.58		$ 45.14
Vesting term					4 years		4 years
Restricted Stock [Member] | Director [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Granted, Shares	9,888		14,643		10,224		14,643
Grant date fair value (USD per share)	$ 64.70		$ 43.01		$ 65.06		$ 43.01
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Number of significant customers (in customers)	1				1
Concentration risk percentage	8.00%				8.00%
Maximum [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Trade Accounts Receivable [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Concentration risk benchmark percentage	6.00%				6.00%
Schuh Group [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Change in total assets resulting from aquisition related recast			5,900,000
Net sales	81,156,000		33,973,000		151,468,000		33,973,000
Operating income	(545,000)		(77,000)		(3,496,000)		(77,000)
Total Assets	221,257,000	[2]	214,650,000	[2]	221,257,000	[2]	214,650,000	[2]		214,650,000	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	2,531,000		936,000		4,773,000		936,000
Capital expenditures	5,322,000		982,000		7,895,000		982,000
Goodwill	100,000,000		104,200,000		100,000,000		104,200,000
Business Segment Six [Member]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]
Change in total assets resulting from aquisition related recast			11,800,000
Net sales	513,000		313,000		690,000		621,000
Operating income	(8,377,000)		(15,652,000)		(21,243,000)		(27,788,000)
Total Assets	178,099,000	[1],[2]	168,674,000	[1]	178,099,000	[1],[2]	168,674,000	[1]		168,674,000	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	575,000		556,000		1,138,000		1,065,000
Capital expenditures	$ 935,000		$ 1,288,000		$ 1,894,000		$ 1,787,000

[1] Total assets for the Lids Sports Group, Schuh Group and Licensed Brands include $155.4 million, $104.2 million and $0.8 million of goodwill.

[2] Total assets for the Lids Sports Group, Schuh Group and Licensed Brands include $168.5 million, $100.0 million and $0.8 million of goodwill, respectively.