Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended															12 Months Ended					3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended																0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2011	Feb. 02, 2013		Oct. 27, 2012		Jul. 28, 2012		Apr. 28, 2012		Jan. 28, 2012		Oct. 29, 2011	Jul. 30, 2011		Apr. 30, 2011		Feb. 02, 2013		Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011		Oct. 27, 2012 LaSenza [Member]	Jul. 28, 2012 LaSenza [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 LaSenza [Member]	Feb. 02, 2013 LaSenza [Member]	Feb. 02, 2013 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]		Jan. 28, 2012 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]	Jan. 29, 2011 Victoria's Secret Segment [Member]		Feb. 02, 2013 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]		Jan. 28, 2012 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]	Jan. 29, 2011 Bath & Body Works Segment [Member]		Feb. 02, 2013 Other Operating Segment		Jan. 28, 2012 Other Operating Segment	Jan. 29, 2011 Other Operating Segment		Oct. 31, 2011 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Jan. 28, 2012 Third Party Sourcing Business [Member]	Jul. 29, 2011 Express [Member]
Net Sales		$ 3,856	[1]	$ 2,050	[2]	$ 2,399	[3]	$ 2,154	[4]	$ 3,515	[5]	$ 2,174	$ 2,458	[6]	$ 2,217	[7]	$ 10,459		$ 10,364	$ 9,613						$ 6,574		$ 6,121	$ 5,520		$ 2,902		$ 2,674	$ 2,515		$ 983		$ 1,569	$ 1,578
Depreciation and Amortization																	354		356	359						148		142	135		53		52	55		153		162	169
Operating Income (Loss)		788	[1]	187	[2]	305	[3]	293	[4]	641	[5]	186	194	[6]	217	[7]	1,573	[8]	1,238	1,284	[8]					1,188	[8]	1,081	888	[8]	604	[8]	513	464	[8]	(219)	[8]	(356)	(68)	[8]
Total Assets		6,019								6,108							6,019		6,108	6,451						2,428		2,346	2,357		1,286		1,273	1,330		2,305		2,489	2,764
Capital Expenditures																	588		426	274						268		161	82		71		60	39		249		205	153
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets		93								232							93		232	6
Long-lived Store Asset Impairment Charges		27															27		0	0
Restructuring Charges																						10	4	24	14
Gain on Divestiture of Third-Party Apparel Sourcing Business										111							0		111	0																						111
Ownership Interest In Business Sold																																									51.00%
Noncash Contribution Expense	$ 113														$ 50																												$ 163

[1] The Company utilizes the retail calendar for reporting. As such, the results for fiscal years 2012 and 2011 represent the 53-week period ended February 2, 2013 and the 52-week period ended January 28, 2012, respectively. The 2012 fourth quarter consists of a fourteen week period versus a thirteen week period in 2011.

[2] Includes the effect of the following items:(i)A pre-tax charge of $93 million related to the impairment of La Senza goodwill and other intangible assets; and(ii)A pre-tax charge of $27 million related to the impairment of Henri Bendel long-lived store assets.

[3] Includes the effect of the following items:i.A pre-tax gain of $13 million related to $13 million in cash distributions from certain of our investments in Easton; andii.A pre-tax expense of $10 million associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.

[4] Includes $4 million of expense associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.

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

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] Operating Loss for the Other segment includes the effect of the following items:(i)In 2012, a $93 million impairment charge related to goodwill and other intangible assets for our La Senza business; a $27 million impairment charge related to long-lived store assets for our Henri Bendel business; and $14 million of expense associated with the store closure initiative at La Senza.(ii)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. In the fourth quarter of 2011, we divested 51% of our third-party apparel sourcing business, which was included in Other in the table above. For additional information, see Note 9, "Equity Investments and Other."