UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 29, 2012	Sep. 29, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Oct. 02, 2010	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS
Net Sales	$ 486,533,000	$ 364,556,000	$ 336,858,000	$ 317,147,000	$ 447,063,000	$ 380,693,000	$ 360,283,000	$ 330,682,000		$ 1,505,094,000	$ 1,518,721,000	$ 1,623,235,000
Gross profit	270,034,000	203,117,000	190,717,000	179,107,000	240,491,000	206,837,000	185,668,000	176,395,000		842,975,000	809,391,000	791,296,000
(Loss) income from continuing operations	61,218,000	(19,393,000)	(49,551,000)	(51,730,000)	244,626,000	7,003,000	(53,824,000)	(53,057,000)		(59,456,000)	144,748,000	(99,362,000)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4,184,000)	592,000	(2,547,000)	(8,910,000)	(15,438,000)	(221,637,000)	(36,072,000)	(43,288,000)		(15,049,000)	(316,435,000)	(152,947,000)
Net Loss	57,034,000	(18,801,000)	(52,098,000)	(60,640,000)	229,188,000	(214,634,000)	(89,896,000)	(96,345,000)		(74,505,000)	(171,687,000)	(252,309,000)
Basic earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.54	$ (0.17)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.51)	$ 2.57	$ 0.07	$ (0.57)	$ (0.56)		$ (0.54)	$ 1.53	$ (1.05)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.17)	$ (2.34)	$ (0.38)	$ (0.46)		$ (0.14)	$ (3.34)	$ (1.62)
Net loss attributable to Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ (0.17)	$ (0.48)	$ (0.60)	$ 2.40	$ (2.27)	$ (0.95)	$ (1.02)		$ (0.68)	$ (1.81)	$ (2.67)
Diluted earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.50	$ (0.17)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.51)	$ 2.04	$ 0.07	$ (0.57)	$ (0.56)		$ (0.54)	$ 1.28	$ (1.05)
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.13)	$ (2.34)	$ (0.38)	$ (0.46)		$ (0.14)	$ (2.63)	$ (1.62)
Net loss attributable to Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.47	$ (0.17)	$ (0.48)	$ (0.60)	$ 1.91	$ (2.27)	$ (0.95)	$ (1.02)		$ (0.68)	$ (1.35)	$ (2.67)
Interest expense	800,000				2,300,000	2,300,000					9,166,000
Shares issuable upon conversion of Convertible Notes	8,000				24,500	25,200					25,008
UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS
Pretax expenses related to streamlining initiatives	4,700,000	5,800,000	27,000,000	10,300,000		11,700,000	34,200,000	3,700,000		67,725,000	112,228,000	78,703,000
Non-cash impairment charge									8,000,000
Trademarks for former Curve fragrance brand and selected other smaller fragrance brands
UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS
Pretax gain on sale of intangible assets under disposal or sale transactions						15,600,000					15,600,000
Global trademark rights for the LIZ CLAIBORNE family of brands, the trademark rights in the US and Puerto Rico for MONET and the DANA BUCHMAN trademark
UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS
Pretax gain on sale of intangible assets under disposal or sale transactions					271,400,000
DKNY Jeans merchandising rights
UNAUDITED QUARTERLY RESULTS
Pretax expenses related to streamlining initiatives					40,000,000
Non-cash impairment charge					$ 600,000