Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended																				0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2011	Jan. 28, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011		Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Jan. 29, 2011		Oct. 30, 2010	Jul. 31, 2010		May 01, 2010		Jan. 28, 2012		Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010		Jan. 28, 2012 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]		Jan. 29, 2011 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]	Jan. 30, 2010 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]		Jan. 28, 2012 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]		Jan. 29, 2011 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]	Jan. 30, 2010 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]		Jan. 28, 2012 Other Operating Segment		Jan. 29, 2011 Other Operating Segment	Jan. 30, 2010 Other Operating Segment		Oct. 31, 2011 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Jul. 29, 2011 Express [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 LaSenza [Member]
Net Sales		$ 3,515	[1]	$ 2,174	[2]	$ 2,458	[3]	$ 2,217	[4]	$ 3,456	[5]	$ 1,983	$ 2,242	[6]	$ 1,932	[7]	$ 10,364		$ 9,613	$ 8,632		$ 6,121		$ 5,520	$ 4,884		$ 2,674		$ 2,515	$ 2,383		$ 1,569		$ 1,578	$ 1,365
Depreciation and Amortization																	356		359	357		142		135	130		52		55	58		162		169	169
Operating Income (Loss)		641	[1]	186	[2]	194	[3]	217	[4]	714	[5]	149	236	[6]	185	[7]	1,238	[8]	1,284	868	[8]	1,081	[8]	888	578	[8]	513	[8]	464	358	[8]	(356)	[8]	(68)	(68)	[8]
Total Assets		6,108								6,451							6,108		6,451	7,173		2,346		2,357	2,471		1,273		1,330	1,350		2,489		2,764	3,352
Capital Expenditures																	426		274	202		161		82	105		60		39	24		205		153	73
Impairment Of Goodwill And Intangible Assets		232															232		6	3																				232
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax		111															111		0	0																		111
Ownership Interest In Business Sold																																					51.00%
Noncash Contribution Expense	113							50																															163
Restructuring Charges		24																																						24
Gain From Reversal Of Accrued Contractual Liability As Result Of Divestiture Of Joint Venture Net of Related Tax Benefits																				14
Gain From Reversal Of Accrued Contractual Liability As Result Of Divestiture Of Joint Venture Before Tax																				$ 9

[1] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax charge of $232 million related to the impairment of La Senza goodwill and other intangible assets;(ii)A pre-tax gain of $111 million related to the sale of 51% of the third-party apparel sourcing business;(iii)A pre-tax expense of $24 million relating to restructuring expenses at La Senza; and(iv)A tax benefit of $28 million related to certain discrete income tax matters.

[2] Includes the effect of a tax benefit of $17 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[3] Includes the effect of a non-taxable gain of $147 million and pre-tax expense of $113 million associated with the charitable contribution of Express, Inc. common stock to The Limited Brands Foundation.

[4] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $86 million related to the sale of shares of Express, Inc. common stock;(ii)A pre-tax expense of $50 million related to a pledge to The Limited Brands Foundation; and(iii)A tax benefit of $11 million related to the favorable resolution of certain discrete income tax matters.

[5] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $45 million related to the sale of Express, Inc. common stock; and(ii)A pre-tax gain of $7 million related to a dividend payment from Express, Inc.

[6] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax gain of $52 million related to the initial public offering of Express, Inc. including the sale of a portion of the company’s shares;(ii)A pre-tax loss of $25 million associated with the early retirement of portions of the 2012 and 2014 notes; and(iii)A pre-tax gain of $20 million associated with the sale of the remaining 25% ownership interest in Limited Stores.

[7] Includes the effect of a pre-tax gain of $49 million related to a $57 million cash distribution from Express.

[8] Operating Loss for the Other segment includes the effect of the following items:(i)In 2011, a $232 million impairment charge related to goodwill and other intangible assets for our La Senza business; a $111 million gain related to the divestiture of 51% of our third-party apparel sourcing business; $163 million of expense related to the charitable contribution of our remaining shares of Express, Inc. to The Limited Brands Foundation; and $24 million of restructuring expenses at La Senza. (ii)In 2009, a $9 million pre-tax gain, $14 million net of related tax benefits, associated with the reversal of an accrued contractual liability as a result of the divestiture of a joint venture.