SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 04, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 04, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 05, 2014 USD ($)	Apr. 05, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 02, 2016 USD ($) item	Jan. 03, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 28, 2013 USD ($)
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of reportable segments | item									3
Net Sales	$ 428,958	$ 277,328	$ 281,118	$ 255,316	$ 398,574	$ 250,417	$ 265,998	$ 223,614	$ 1,242,720	$ 1,138,603	$ 803,371
% to Total									100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Depreciation and Amortization Expense									$ 49,937	$ 54,438	$ 38,780
Adjusted EBITDA									199,813	146,971	77,109
Long-Lived Assets	980,361				926,338				980,361	926,338
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets									70,207	132,221	67,591
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA									199,813	146,971	77,109
Unallocated Corporate Costs									(46,311)	(48,441)	(35,088)
Charges due to streamlining initiatives, brand-exiting activities, acquisition related costs and loss on asset disposals and impairments, net									(40,399)	(30,371)	(15,716)
Joint venture contract termination fee				26,000					(26,000)
Share-based compensation									(25,577)	(37,270)	(7,269)
Adjusted Equity loss (income) included in Reportable Segments Adjusted EBITDA									4,872	2,583	1,179
Operating Income									66,398	33,472	20,215
Other expense, net									(11,137)	(4,033)	(2,062)
Loss on settlement of note receivable									(9,873)
Impairment of cost investment											(6,109)
Loss on extinguishment of debt										(16,914)	(1,707)
Interest expense, net									(19,152)	(20,178)	(47,065)
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)									4,528	(84,379)	(4,563)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	61,508	$ 4,510	$ 9,249	$ (53,559)	126,494	$ 2,623	$ (13,983)	$ (38,408)	21,708	76,726	(32,165)
Restructuring expenses									1,800
Womens accessories
SEGMENT REPORTING
Net Sales									886,630	790,544	507,999
Apparel, jewelry and other
SEGMENT REPORTING
Net Sales									356,090	348,059	295,372
Payroll and Related Costs and Spending
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Share-based compensation									$ (300)	(17,300)	(2,800)
Domestic
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of Operating Segments | item									1
Net Sales									$ 1,012,657	$ 899,475	$ 648,406
% to Total									81.50%	79.00%	80.70%
Long-Lived Assets	233,185				254,597				$ 233,185	$ 254,597
International
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of Operating Segments | item									3
Net Sales									$ 230,063	$ 239,128	$ 154,965
% to Total									18.50%	21.00%	19.30%
Long-Lived Assets	75,796				74,600				$ 75,796	$ 74,600
Other
SEGMENT REPORTING
Adjusted EBITDA										(940)	$ (4,334)
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA										(940)	(4,334)
KATE SPADE North America
SEGMENT REPORTING
Net Sales									$ 1,031,123	$ 891,766	$ 597,748
% to Total									83.00%	78.30%	74.40%
Depreciation and Amortization Expense									$ 29,588	$ 31,905	$ 23,961
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 177,593	$ 143,009	$ 70,250
% of Sales									17.20%	16.00%	11.80%
Long-Lived Assets	504,571				467,383				$ 504,571	$ 467,383
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets									49,827	76,707	$ 58,089
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA									177,593	143,009	70,250
Kate Spade International
SEGMENT REPORTING
Net Sales									$ 188,151	$ 213,582	$ 145,404
% to Total									15.10%	18.80%	18.10%
Depreciation and Amortization Expense									$ 12,164	$ 13,904	$ 8,476
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 17,697	$ 810	$ (815)
% of Sales									9.40%	0.40%	(0.60%)
Long-Lived Assets	180,259				198,677				$ 180,259	$ 198,677
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets									19,909	55,038	$ 9,139
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 17,697	810	(815)
Adelington Design Group
SEGMENT REPORTING
Number of reportable segments | item									3
Net Sales									$ 23,446	$ 33,255	$ 60,219
% to Total									1.90%	2.90%	7.50%
Depreciation and Amortization Expense									$ 206	$ 887	$ 625
Adjusted EBITDA									$ 4,523	$ 4,092	$ 12,008
% of Sales									19.30%	12.30%	19.90%
Long-Lived Assets	13,852				18,671				$ 13,852	$ 18,671
Expenditures for Long-Lived Assets									471	476	$ 363
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA									4,523	4,092	12,008
Corporate and Other
SEGMENT REPORTING
Depreciation and Amortization Expense									7,979	7,742	5,718
Adjusted EBITDA										(940)	(4,334)
Long-Lived Assets	$ 281,679				$ 241,607				281,679	241,607
Reconciliation to Loss from Continuing Operations
Adjusted EBITDA										(940)	(4,334)
Corporate, Non-Segment
SEGMENT REPORTING
Depreciation and amortization expense recorded in interest expense									$ 3,600	$ 5,200	$ 3,600