Segment Information - Revenues and Income (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	$ 814,638	$ 962,105
Sales adjustments	(79,020)	(92,706)
Net Sales	735,618	869,399
Operating income	(127,028)	(49,146)
Interest expense	22,030	22,520
Interest (income)	(2,466)	(2,360)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(921)	24,173
Loss Before Income Taxes	(145,671)	(93,479)
Share-based compensation expense	12,671	12,364
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	814,638	962,105
Operating income	(49,967)	27,174
Operating Segments | North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	362,318	490,522
Operating income	(19,340)	41,149
Operating Segments | International
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	366,336	374,804
Operating income	(24,842)	(17,362)
Operating Segments | American Girl
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross sales	85,984	96,779
Operating income	(5,785)	3,387
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	(77,061)	(76,320)
Severance and other termination-related costs	3,000	9,800
Share-based compensation expense	$ 12,700	$ 12,400