Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information (Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 30, 2010 Limited Stores [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Express [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Limited Brands, Inc. [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Limited Brands, Inc. [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Limited Brands, Inc. [Member] Limited Stores [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Limited Brands, Inc. [Member] Express [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] Limited Stores [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] Express [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Non-guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Non-guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Non-guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] Limited Stores [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Non-guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] Express [Member]	Oct. 29, 2011 Eliminations [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Eliminations [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Eliminations [Member] Limited Stores [Member]	Oct. 30, 2010 Eliminations [Member] Express [Member]
Net Cash Provided by (Used for) Operating Activities	$ 94	$ 81			$ (159)	$ (151)			$ 35	$ 102			$ 218	$ 130			$ 0	$ 0
Investing Activities:
Capital Expenditures	(338)	(197)			0	0			(174)	(116)			(164)	(81)			0	0
Return of Capital			7	49			0	0			0	0			7	49			0	0
Proceeds from Sale of Express Common Stock	99	0			0				0				99				0
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses	0	32				0				0				32				0
Proceeds from Express Initial Public Offering	0	20				0				0				20				0
Other Investing Activities	0	4				0				0				4				0
Net Cash Used for Investing Activities	(239)	(85)			0	0			(174)	(116)			(127)	31			62	0
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Long-term Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	981	390			981	390			0	0			0	0			0	0
Payment of Long-term Debt	0	(645)				(645)				0				0				0
Financing Costs	(7)	(14)			(7)	(14)			0	0			0	0			0	0
Repurchase of Common Stock	(1,073)	(147)			(1,073)	(147)			0	0			0	0			0	0
Dividends Paid	(491)	(471)			(491)	(471)			0	0			0	0			0	0
Excess Tax Benefits from Share-based Compensation	40	12			0	0			32	10			8	2			0	0
Net Financing Activities and Advances to/from Consolidated Affiliates	0	0			688	978			(505)	(870)			(121)	(108)			(62)	0
Proceeds from Exercise of Stock Options and Other	61	60			61	60			0	0			0	0			0	0
Net Cash Used for Financing Activities	(489)	(815)			159	151			(473)	(860)			(113)	(106)			(62)	0
Effects of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	2	3			0	0			0	0			2	3			0	0
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(632)	(816)			0	0			(612)	(874)			(20)	58			0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period	1,130	1,804			0	0			701	1,441			429	363			0	0
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period	$ 498	$ 988			$ 0	$ 0			$ 89	$ 567			$ 409	$ 421			$ 0	$ 0