v2.4.0.6
Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jul. 28, 2012
Jul. 30, 2011
Jul. 28, 2012
United States Federal
Jul. 28, 2012
United States Federal
Minimum
Jul. 28, 2012
United States Federal
Maximum
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Period of Expiration one to five
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Period of Expiration Six To Ten
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Period of Expiration Eleven to Fifteen
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Period of Expiration Sixteen to Twenty
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Minimum
Jul. 28, 2012
State
Maximum
Jul. 28, 2012
Charming Shoppes Acquisition
Jun. 14, 2012
Charming Shoppes Acquisition
Income Taxes [Line Items]                            
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate 35.00%                          
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries $ 15                          
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries, reinvested to fund Canadian expansion 9.0                          
Deferred tax, reversed 1.7                          
Acquisition Tax credit and charitable carryovers value                           69.3
Valuation allowance 11.8 3.5                     10.1  
Reversed valuation amount 1.8                          
Valuation allowance, decrease   0.7                        
Net operating loss carryforwards     140.2     74.4 6.7 25.0 21.4 21.3        
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration period       2028 2031                  
Net operating loss carryforwards expiration period (years)     20 years               5 years 20 years    
Unrecognized tax benefits (including accrued interest and penalties) 61.7 21.9                        
Estimated decrease in unrecognized tax benefits, over the next twelve months 9.2                          
Gross unrecognized tax benefits that would affect effective tax rate, including interest and penalties $ 42.7                       $ 38.5