GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales	$ 1,015,054	$ 668,731	$ 594,855	$ 640,771	$ 983,230	$ 656,070	$ 595,480	$ 649,881	$ 2,919,411	$ 2,884,661	$ 2,980,479
Other income	19,105	14,389	12,405	13,526	25,981	14,498	13,790	14,600	59,425	68,869	66,006
Total	1,034,159	683,120	607,260	654,297	1,009,211	670,568	609,270	664,481	2,978,836	2,953,530	3,046,485
Costs and expenses:
Costs of merchandise sold	647,739	424,219	380,716	421,216	643,481	410,703	373,918	419,267	1,873,890	1,847,369	1,860,182
Selling, general and administrative	263,654	224,846	219,435	228,240	259,379	234,856	219,786	222,039	936,175	936,060	942,660
Depreciation and amortization	21,183	21,481	23,425	22,187	21,237	23,114	26,172	24,510	88,276	95,033	102,202
Amortization of lease-related interests	1,167	1,168	1,178	1,183	1,163	1,195	1,194	1,195	4,696	4,747	4,555
Impairment charges	5,088	593	119		3,481	157	49	3	5,800	3,690	1,738
Income from operations	95,328	10,813	(17,613)	(18,529)	80,470	543	(11,849)	(2,533)	69,999	66,631	135,148
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net	(21,565)	(19,995)	(20,706)	(20,573)	(21,502)	(21,938)	(22,762)	(23,305)	(82,839)	(89,507)	(112,301)
Loss on exchange/extinguishment of debt	(398)	(617)	(6,301)	(1,169)	18,179			(9,450)	(8,485)	8,729
(Loss) income before income taxes	73,365	(9,799)	(44,620)	(40,271)	77,147	(21,395)	(34,611)	(35,288)	(21,325)	(14,147)	22,847
Income tax (benefit) provision	(1,049)	349	419	509	(1,048)	640	(2,311)	700	228	(2,019)	1,353
Net (loss) income	74,414	(10,148)	(45,039)	(40,780)	78,195	(22,035)	(32,300)	(35,988)	(21,553)	(12,128)	21,494
Parent
Other income (expense):
Equity in (losses) earnings of subsidiaries									(21,325)	(14,147)	22,847
(Loss) income before income taxes									(21,325)	(14,147)	22,847
Income tax (benefit) provision									228	(2,019)	1,353
Net (loss) income									(21,553)	(12,128)	21,494
Issuer
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales									1,697,211	1,683,970	1,742,114
Other income									33,379	38,333	37,960
Total									1,730,590	1,722,303	1,780,074
Costs and expenses:
Costs of merchandise sold									1,095,635	1,083,018	1,089,366
Selling, general and administrative									567,907	576,164	586,235
Depreciation and amortization									42,168	43,359	48,952
Amortization of lease-related interests									1,952	2,293	2,474
Impairment charges									423	1,050	1,175
Income from operations									22,505	16,419	51,872
Other income (expense):
Equity in (losses) earnings of subsidiaries									21,761	25,134	55,505
Interest expense, net									(58,275)	(64,429)	(84,530)
Loss on exchange/extinguishment of debt									(7,316)	8,729
(Loss) income before income taxes									(21,325)	(14,147)	22,847
Income tax (benefit) provision									228	(2,019)	1,353
Net (loss) income									(21,553)	(12,128)	21,494
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Condensed consolidating statement of operations
Net sales									1,222,200	1,200,691	1,238,365
Other income									26,046	30,536	28,046
Total									1,248,246	1,231,227	1,266,411
Costs and expenses:
Costs of merchandise sold									778,255	764,351	770,816
Selling, general and administrative									399,362	395,048	392,411
Depreciation and amortization									35,024	40,506	41,816
Amortization of lease-related interests									2,744	2,454	2,081
Impairment charges									5,377	2,640	563
Income from operations									27,484	26,228	58,724
Other income (expense):
Intercompany rental and royalty income									120	6,844	7,694
Interest expense, net									(9,377)	(9,223)	(11,447)
(Loss) income before income taxes									18,227	23,849	54,971
Income tax (benefit) provision									1,215	21	1,007
Net (loss) income									17,012	23,828	53,964
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative									(3,458)	80	96
Depreciation and amortization									11,084	11,168	11,434
Income from operations									(7,626)	(11,248)	(11,530)
Other income (expense):
Intercompany rental and royalty income									27,516	28,388	28,388
Interest expense, net									(15,187)	(15,855)	(16,324)
Loss on exchange/extinguishment of debt									(1,169)
(Loss) income before income taxes									3,534	1,285	534
Net (loss) income									3,534	1,285	534
Consolidating Eliminations
Costs and expenses:
Selling, general and administrative									(27,636)	(35,232)	(36,082)
Income from operations									27,636	35,232	36,082
Other income (expense):
Intercompany rental and royalty income									(27,636)	(35,232)	(36,082)
Equity in (losses) earnings of subsidiaries									(436)	(10,987)	(78,352)
(Loss) income before income taxes									(436)	(10,987)	(78,352)
Income tax (benefit) provision									(1,443)	1,998	(2,360)
Net (loss) income									$ 1,007	$ (12,985)	$ (75,992)