v3.3.1.900

Basis of Presentation (Notes) | 12 Months Ended
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Jan. 30, 2016
Basis of Presentation [Line Items] |
Basis of Presentation [Text Block] | BASIS OF PRESENTATION Fiscal Year- DSW Inc.’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. The periods presented in these financial statements are the fiscal years ended January 30, 2016 ("fiscal 2015"), January 31, 2015 ("fiscal 2014") and February 1, 2014 ("fiscal 2013"). Fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 each consisted of 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years. Use of Estimates- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates are required as a part of inventory valuation, depreciation, amortization, customer loyalty program reserve, recoverability of long-lived assets and intangible assets, litigation reserves, exit and disposal obligations and establishing reserves for self-insurance. Although these estimates are based on management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, actual results could differ from these estimates. Principles of Consolidation- The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of DSW Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All amounts are in United States Dollars ("USD"), unless otherwise noted. Merger with Retail Ventures, Inc. (the "Merger")- On May 26, 2011, Retail Ventures, Inc. (“Retail Ventures” or “RVI”) merged with and into DSW MS LLC (“Merger Sub”), with Merger Sub surviving the Merger and continuing as a wholly owned subsidiary of DSW Inc. The Merger was accounted for as a reverse merger with RVI as the accounting acquirer and DSW Inc. (the surviving legal entity) as the accounting acquiree. As this was a transaction between entities under common control under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 805, Business Combinations, the Merger was accounted for as an equity transaction in accordance with ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, as the acquisition of a noncontrolling interest, and purchase accounting was not applied. As a result, there was no adjustment to RVI's historical cost carrying amounts of assets and liabilities. Pre-merger financial information presented in the DSW Inc. consolidated financial statements represents consolidated RVI financial information. References to Retail Ventures or RVI refer to the pre-merger entity.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the basis of accounting, or basis of presentation, used to prepare the financial statements (for example, US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Other Comprehensive Basis of Accounting, IFRS). + References No definition available. + Details
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