Consolidated Statements Of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2012	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 2,196,360	$ 1,904,954	$ 1,713,150
Cost of goods sold	969,989	836,379	753,409
Gross margin	1,226,371	1,068,575	959,741
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	998,861	891,493	851,588
Acquisition and integration costs	5,133
Total selling, general and administrative expenses	1,003,994	891,493	851,588
Income from operations	222,377	177,082	108,153
Interest income, net	1,597	1,712	1,693
Income before income taxes	223,974	178,794	109,846
Income tax provision	83,100	63,400	40,200
Net income	140,874	115,394	69,646
Per share data:
Net income per common share-basic	$ 0.82	$ 0.65	$ 0.39
Net income per common & common equivalent share-diluted	$ 0.82	$ 0.64	$ 0.39
Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic	169,152,870	176,777,953	177,498,862
Weighted average common & common equivalent shares outstanding-diluted	170,250,444	178,033,629	178,857,540
Dividends declared and paid per share	$ 0.2	$ 0.16
Chico's/Soma Intimates [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	1,460,518	1,314,649	1,196,729
White House | Black Market [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	696,358	590,305	516,421
Boston Proper [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 39,484