Equity Investments and Other (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended							0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended						0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	May 13, 2010	Jul. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010	Jan. 28, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Oct. 31, 2011 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Apr. 12, 2011 Express [Member]	May 14, 2010 Express [Member]	Jul. 29, 2011 Express [Member]	Dec. 15, 2010 Express [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Express [Member]	Aug. 31, 2010 Express [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Express [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Express [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Express [Member]	Jan. 29, 2011 Express [Member]	Jan. 30, 2010 Express [Member]	Jan. 29, 2012 Express [Member]	Jul. 30, 2011 Express [Member]	May 13, 2010 Express [Member]	Jul. 31, 2007 Express [Member]	Jun. 10, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Feb. 28, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Aug. 31, 2007 Limited Stores [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Limited Stores [Member]	Jan. 29, 2011 Limited Stores [Member]	Jan. 30, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Jul. 31, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Easton Investment [Member]	Jan. 29, 2011 Easton Investment [Member]	Jul. 15, 2009 Other Equity Investees [Member]	Apr. 30, 2008 Other Equity Investees [Member]
Ownership Interest In Business Sold										51.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Limited Stores					$ 0	$ 0	$ 9			$ 124
Company ownership in unconsolidated entities										49.00%
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax			111		111	0	0				111
Transition Services Arrangements								2 months	3 years
Equity method investment carrying value											72							0																	70	69
Equity method investment ownership percentage divested																								25.00%		75.00%	25.00%			75.00%				25.00%
Merchandise sourcing revenue from equity method investment																				325	384	344									83	62	58
Due from Express																							74									9
Cash distribution from equity method investment																		57
Cash distribution received from equity method investment representing a return on capital																		8
Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions Return Of Capital												86			45			49											7
Partners' Capital Account, Return of Capital																		49
Shares of common stock in Express sold in the IPO																									1.3
Common stock sold												99													20
Diluted ownership interest	18.00%														14.00%				18.00%
Pre-tax gain on shares of common stock sold in the IPO					0	52	0						52		7
Merchandise sourcing sales recognition																	100.00%										100.00%
Common Stock, shares issued			296.0		296.0	329.0									3.6
Common stock, value															52
Pre-tax gain from sale of divestitures					0	20	0									45												20
Dividends, common stock, cash					1,144	1,488	193									7
Shares Of Common Stock Sold In Secondary Offering												5.5
Cost Method Investment Ownership Percentage												8.00%		0.00%
Contribution Of Shares														7.2
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure																								163
Noncash Contribution Expense		113		50										163
Non Taxable Gain From Contribution Of Shares To Foundation														147
Cost method investment carrying value																							29
Terms of transition services arrangements range																														from three months to three years
Proceeds from sale of equity method investment																												32
Pre-tax impairment charge related to an unconsolidated joint venture																																						19
Pre-tax gain as a result of the divestiture of the joint venture					$ 0	$ 0	$ 9																														$ 9