v2.4.0.6

Investments - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified				1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 01, 2012 Investment	Apr. 28, 2012	Jul. 30, 2011	May 01, 2012 Merger Agreement with Charming Shoppes, Inc.	Apr. 28, 2012 Auction rate securities	Apr. 28, 2012 Available-for-sale investments - non-current	Jul. 30, 2011 Available-for-sale investments - non-current	Apr. 28, 2012 Available-for-sale investments - non-current Auction rate securities	Jul. 30, 2011 Available-for-sale investments - non-current Auction rate securities	May 01, 2012 Redeemed Securities Investment	Apr. 28, 2012 Redeemed Securities	May 01, 2012 Noninvestment grade Investment	Apr. 28, 2012 Noninvestment grade
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of investment portfolio				$ 240
Expected realized gain on sale of investments in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012				1
Available-for-sale investments, Total		253.3	192.6			2.7	138.5	2.7	12.0
Available-for-sale investments, called for redemption					3.7
ARS, number of investments	3									2		1
ARS, book value											6.9		2.7
ARS, par value											$ 8.0		$ 3.9

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