Destination Maternity (DESTQ) 10-K 12 Dec 14 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 05, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	30-Sep-14	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Trading Symbol	'DEST	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Destination Maternity Corp	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000896985	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--09-30	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$363,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	13,797,959	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$12,580	$24,555
Trade receivables, net	11,609	12,463
Inventories	88,411	86,546
Deferred income taxes	10,330	8,012
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	13,128	6,927
Total current assets	136,058	138,503
Property, plant and equipment, net	76,799	53,447
Other assets:	'	'
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $379 and $181	609	807
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,333 and $1,166	4,334	2,344
Deferred income taxes	11,820	12,470
Other non-current assets	913	410
Total other assets	17,676	16,031
Total assets	230,533	207,981
Current liabilities:	'	'
Accounts payable	31,942	23,810
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	47,840	39,417
Total current liabilities	79,782	63,227
Deferred rent and other non-current liabilities	25,230	22,121
Total liabilities	105,012	85,348
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16)	'	'
Stockholders’ equity:	'	'
Preferred stock, 1,656,381 shares authorized Series B junior participating preferred stock, $.01 par value; 300,000 shares authorized, none outstanding	'	'
Common stock, $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized, 13,707,185 and 13,556,331 shares issued and outstanding, respectively	137	136
Additional paid-in capital	101,792	98,634
Retained earnings	23,655	23,930
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-63	-67
Total stockholders’ equity	125,521	122,633
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$230,533	$207,981

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS_Pa

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Deferred financing costs, accumulated amortization	$379	$181
Other intangible assets, accumulated amortization	$1,333	$1,166
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,656,381	1,656,381
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	13,707,185	13,556,331
Common stock, shares outstanding	13,707,185	13,556,331
Series B junior participating preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Series B junior participating preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Series B junior participating preferred stock	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	300,000	300,000
Series B junior participating preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Series B junior participating preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_INC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net sales	$516,959	$540,259	$541,476
Cost of goods sold	247,501	249,298	250,765
Gross profit	269,458	290,961	290,711
Selling, general and administrative expenses	250,253	252,026	255,623
Store closing, asset impairment and asset disposal expenses	1,469	1,441	1,983
Other charges, net	3,229	0	0
Operating income	14,507	37,494	33,105
Interest expense, net	404	532	1,215
Loss on extinguishment of debt	'	9	22
Income before income taxes	14,103	36,953	31,868
Income tax provision	3,606	13,010	12,496
Net income	$10,497	$23,943	$19,372
Net income per share—Basic	$0.78	$1.80	$1.48
Average shares outstanding—Basic	13,451	13,272	13,096
Net income per share—Diluted	$0.77	$1.78	$1.46
Average shares outstanding—Diluted	13,572	13,439	13,267

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income	$10,497	$23,943	$19,372
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4	-33	-16
Change in fair value of interest rate swap, net of tax	'	'	90
Comprehensive income	$10,501	$23,910	$19,446

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_STO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
In Thousands
Beginning Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$92,695	$132	$92,932	($261)	($108)
Beginning Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2011	'	13,226	'	'	'
Net income	19,372	'	'	19,372	'
Change in fair value of interest rate swap, net of tax	90	'	'	'	90
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-16	'	'	'	-16
Cash dividends	-9,325	'	'	-9,325	'
Stock-based compensation	2,357	1	2,356	'	'
Stock-based compensation, shares	'	91	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, net	107	1	106	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	84	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting	289	'	289	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	-597	'	-597	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	'	-31	'	'	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	104,972	134	95,086	9,786	-34
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2012	'	13,370	'	'	'
Net income	23,943	'	'	23,943	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-33	'	'	'	-33
Cash dividends	-9,799	'	'	-9,799	'
Stock-based compensation	2,771	1	2,770	'	'
Stock-based compensation, shares	'	97	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, net	744	1	743	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	123	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting	760	'	760	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	-725	'	-725	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	'	-34	'	'	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	122,633	136	98,634	23,930	-67
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2013	'	13,556	'	'	'
Net income	10,497	'	'	10,497	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4	'	'	'	4
Cash dividends	-10,772	'	'	-10,772	'
Stock-based compensation	3,747	1	3,746	'	'
Stock-based compensation, shares	'	127	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, net	271	1	270	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	'	100	'	'	'
Excess tax benefit from stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting	1,319	'	1,319	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	-2,178	-1	-2,177	'	'
Repurchase and retirement of common stock, shares	'	-76	'	'	'
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2014	$125,521	$137	$101,792	$23,655	($63)
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2014	'	13,707	'	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating Activities	'	'	'
Net income	$10,497	$23,943	$19,372
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	15,197	12,424	12,445
Stock-based compensation expense	3,747	2,771	2,357
Loss on impairment of long-lived assets	1,136	786	1,876
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets	-4,031	528	115
Loss on extinguishment of debt	'	9	22
Deferred income tax benefit	-2,975	-3,007	-1,378
Amortization of deferred financing costs	198	203	105
Decrease (increase) in:	'	'	'
Trade receivables	855	727	-2,188
Inventories	-1,865	2,205	1,611
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	-5,511	-2,708	2,577
Other non-current assets	-503	-54	-12
Increase (decrease) in:	'	'	'
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities	5,081	4,058	6,201
Deferred rent and other non-current liabilities	4,019	268	-406
Net cash provided by operating activities	25,845	42,153	42,697
Investing Activities	'	'	'
Capital expenditures	-40,185	-15,059	-9,256
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	12,591	'	'
Additions to intangible assets	-1,950	-963	-265
Net cash used in investing activities	-29,544	-16,022	-9,521
Financing Activities	'	'	'
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts	3,081	1,278	-401
Repayment of long-term debt	'	-15,257	-16,085
Deferred financing costs paid	'	-927	-61
Withholding taxes on stock-based compensation paid in connection with repurchase of common stock	-2,178	-725	-597
Cash dividends paid	-10,772	-9,799	-9,325
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	271	744	107
Excess tax benefit from exercise of stock options and restricted stock vesting	1,319	760	289
Net cash used in financing activities	-8,279	-23,926	-26,073
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3	-26	-12
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents	-11,975	2,179	7,091
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year	24,555	22,376	15,285
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year	$12,580	$24,555	$22,376

Nature_of_Business

Nature of Business	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Nature of Business	'
	1	NATURE OF BUSINESS
	Destination Maternity Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a specialty designer and retailer of maternity clothing. The Company operated 1,894 retail locations as of September 30, 2014, including 568 stores and 1,326 leased departments, throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, and markets its maternity apparel on the Internet through its DestinationMaternity.com and brand-specific websites. The Company also markets maternity apparel at Kohl’s® stores throughout the United States under an exclusive product and license agreement. Further the Company has store franchise and product supply relationships in the Middle East, South Korea and Mexico. The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1982.

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	2	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
	a.	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries: Cave Springs, Inc., Mothers Work Canada, Inc. and Destination Maternity Apparel Private Limited. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
	b.	Fiscal Year-End
	The Company has historically operated on a fiscal year ending September 30 of each year. On December 4, 2014 the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a change in its fiscal year end from September 30 to the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year. The fiscal year end change will align the Company’s reporting cycle with the National Retail Federation fiscal calendar. The change will be effective with the Company’s fiscal year 2015, which will begin February 1, 2015 and end January 30, 2016, and will result in a four-month transition period beginning October 1, 2014 and ending January 31, 2015. All references to fiscal years of the Company refer to the fiscal years ended on September 30 in those years, unless otherwise indicated. For example, the Company’s “fiscal 2014” ended on September 30, 2014.
	c.	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
	d.	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in the bank and short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. Book cash overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit, of $7,811,000 and $4,730,000 were included in accounts payable as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The Company maintains cash accounts that, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses from maintaining cash accounts in excess of such limits. Management believes that it is not exposed to any significant credit risks on its cash accounts.
	e.	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) method. Inventories of goods manufactured by the Company include the cost of materials, freight, direct labor, and manufacturing and distribution overhead.
	f.	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed for financial reporting purposes on a straight-line basis, using service lives ranging principally from five to ten years for furniture and equipment and forty years for the building. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or their useful life. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts with any resulting gain or loss included in net income. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, except for the capitalization of major renewals and betterments that extend the life of the asset. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever adverse events, or changes in circumstances or business climate, indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors used in the evaluation include, but are not limited to, management’s plans for future operations, brand initiatives, recent operating results and projected cash flows. If the associated undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to support the recorded asset, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value of the asset with the carrying value. During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded impairment write-downs of property, plant and equipment totaling $1,136,000, $754,000 and $1,875,000, respectively, on a pretax basis.
	g.	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets with definite useful lives consist primarily of patent and lease acquisition costs. The Company capitalizes legal costs incurred to defend its patents when a successful outcome is deemed probable and to the extent of an evident increase in the value of the patents. Intangible assets are amortized over the shorter of their useful life or, if applicable, the lease term. Management reviews the carrying amount of these intangible assets as impairment indicators arise, to assess the continued recoverability based on future undiscounted cash flows and operating results from the related asset, future asset utilization and changes in market conditions. As of September 30, 2014 the Company has capitalized $2,952,000 of legal costs incurred in connection with a lawsuit asserting infringement of Company patents, of which $1,859,000 and $1,093,000 were incurred during fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively. During fiscal 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded write-downs of intangible assets totaling $32,000 and $1,000, respectively, on a pretax basis. The Company has not identified any indefinite-lived intangible assets. Aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $240,000, $149,000 and $142,000, respectively.
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s intangible assets as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our next four future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	106
	2015		316
	2016		309
	2017		301
	2018		292
	h.	Interest Rate Derivative
	The Company mitigated a portion of its floating rate interest risk on variable rate long-term debt through an interest rate swap agreement that expired on April 18, 2012. On the date the derivative instrument was entered into, the Company designated it as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”) and recognized the derivative on the balance sheet at fair value. In accordance with applicable accounting standards for derivative instruments, changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as, and meets all the criteria for, a cash flow hedge were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings as the underlying hedged item affected earnings. The Company formally documented the relationship between the hedging instrument and hedged items. The Company formally assessed at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivative was highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item. For fiscal 2012 the Company’s interest rate swap was determined to have no ineffectiveness.
	i.	Deferred Financing Costs
	Deferred financing costs are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt agreement. Amortization expense of deferred financing costs in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $198,000, $203,000 and $105,000, respectively. In connection with debt extinguishments, in fiscal 2013 and 2012 the Company wrote off $9,000 and $22,000, respectively, of unamortized deferred financing costs (see Note 9). In connection with its current credit facility entered into on November 1, 2012, the Company incurred approximately $988,000 in deferred financing costs, of which $927,000 was paid in fiscal 2013 and $61,000 was paid in fiscal 2012 (see Note 8).
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s deferred financing costs as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	65
	2015		198
	2016		198
	2017		148
	j.	Deferred Rent
	Rent expense on operating leases, including rent holidays and scheduled rent increases, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease commencing on the date the Company takes possession of the leased property, which for stores is generally four to six weeks prior to a store’s opening date and for the Company’s new headquarters building was approximately ten months prior to the planned January 2015 relocation. The net excess of rent expense over the actual cash paid has been recorded as a deferred rent liability in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Tenant improvement allowances received from landlords are also included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as deferred rent liabilities and are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease from the possession date.
	k.	Treasury (Reacquired) Shares
	Shares repurchased are retired and treated as authorized but unissued shares, with the cost in excess of par value of the reacquired shares charged to additional paid-in capital and the par value charged to common stock.
	l.	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The majority of the Company’s long-term debt bore interest at variable rates, which adjusted based on market conditions, and the carrying value of the long-term debt approximated fair value. The fair value of the Company’s debt was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis based on interest rates available to the Company. A significant portion of the Company’s floating rate interest risk on variable rate long-term debt was mitigated through an interest rate swap agreement that expired on April 18, 2012.
	m.	Revenue Recognition, Sales Returns and Allowances
	Revenue is recognized at the point of sale for retail store sales, including leased department sales, or when merchandise is delivered to customers for licensed brand product and Internet sales, and when merchandise is shipped to international franchisees. Leased department revenue is remitted to us, less a fixed percentage of the net sales earned by the lease partner (as stipulated in each agreement), which is considered a store expense and included in selling, general and administrative expenses (see Note 2q). A liability is established for the retail value of gift cards sold and merchandise credits issued. The liability is relieved and revenue is recognized when gift cards or merchandise credits are redeemed by customers as tender for merchandise purchased. Allowances for returns are recorded as a reduction of revenue, based on the Company’s historical experience. Revenues are recorded net of applicable sales taxes.
	n.	Other Revenues
	Included in net sales are revenues earned by the Company through a variety of marketing partnership programs utilizing the Company’s opt-in customer database and various in-store marketing initiatives, focused on baby and parent-related products and services. Revenue from marketing partnership programs is recognized when goods or services are provided. Also included in net sales are fees and royalties related to international franchise agreements. International franchise fees are earned by the Company when all material services or conditions related to the international franchise agreement have been substantially performed or satisfied and royalties are earned based on net sales of the Company’s international franchisees and may include minimum guaranteed royalties.
	o.	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income includes: merchandise costs (including customs duty expenses), expenses related to inventory shrinkage, product-related corporate expenses (including expenses related to payroll, benefit costs and operating expenses of the Company’s buying departments), inventory reserves (including lower of cost or market reserves), inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and the other costs of the Company’s distribution network.
	p.	Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
	The Company includes shipping and handling revenue earned from its Internet activities in net sales. Shipping and handling costs, which are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, include shipping supplies, related labor costs and third-party shipping costs.
	q.	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
	Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income include advertising and marketing expenses, corporate administrative expenses, store expenses (including store payroll and store occupancy expenses), and store opening expenses.
	r.	Advertising Costs
	The Company expenses the costs of advertising when the advertising first occurs. Advertising expenses, including Internet advertising expenses, were $18,187,000, $16,984,000 and $13,878,000 in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	s.	Stock-based Compensation
	The Company recognizes employee stock-based compensation as a cost in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Stock-based awards are measured at the grant date fair value and the compensation expense is recorded generally on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting, which are recognized in stockholders’ equity, are reflected as financing cash inflows.
	t.	Store Closing, Asset Impairment and Asset Disposal Expenses
	Store closing expenses include lease termination fees, gains or losses on disposal of closed store assets and recognition of unamortized deferred rent. Asset impairment expenses represent losses recognized to reduce the carrying value of impaired long-lived assets. Asset disposal expenses represent gains or losses on disposal of assets other than in connection with store closings, including assets disposed from remodeling or relocation of stores.
	u.	Income Taxes
	The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities as well as from net operating loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
	Under the accounting standard for uncertain income tax positions, recognition of a tax benefit occurs when a tax position is estimated by management to be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based solely on its technical merits. Derecognition of a previously recognized tax position would occur if it is subsequently determined that the tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount that management believes has a greater than 50% likelihood of being finalized. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax provision.
	v.	Net Income per Share and Cash Dividends
	Basic net income (or earnings) per share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding restricted stock awards for which the restrictions have not lapsed. Diluted net income per share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, after giving effect to the potential dilution, if applicable, from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards and exercise of stock options into shares of common stock as if those stock options were exercised. Common shares issuable in connection with the award of performance-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are excluded from the calculation of EPS until the RSUs’ performance conditions are achieved and the shares in respect of the RSUs become issuable (see Note 13).
	The following table summarizes those effects for the diluted net income per share calculation (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2012
Net income	$	10,497	$	23,943	$	19,372
Net income per share—Basic	$	0.78	$	1.8	$	1.48
Net income per share—Diluted	$	0.77	$	1.78	$	1.46
Average number of shares outstanding—Basic		13,451		13,272		13,096
Incremental shares from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options		73		108		122
Incremental shares from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards		48		59		49
Average number of shares outstanding—Diluted		13,572		13,439		13,267
In addition to performance-based RSUs, for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 stock options and unvested restricted stock totaling approximately 201,000, 196,000 and 321,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS as their effect would have been antidilutive.
During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company paid cash dividends totaling $10,772,000 ($0.7875 per share), $9,799,000 ($0.725 per share) and $9,325,000 ($0.70 per share), respectively. On November 13, 2014 the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable on December 26, 2014, which will require approximately $2,700,000 of available cash.
w.	Statements of Cash Flows
In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company paid interest, including payments made on its interest rate swap agreement in fiscal 2012 (see Note 9), of $211,000, $360,000 and $1,359,000, respectively, and made income tax payments, net of refunds, of $8,460,000, $16,188,000 and $7,432,000, respectively.
x.	Business and Credit Risk
Financial instruments, primarily cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables, potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company limits its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by placing such investments in highly liquid funds and instruments. Trade receivables associated with third-party credit cards are processed by financial institutions, which are monitored for financial stability. Trade receivables associated with licensed brand, leased department, international franchise and other relationships are evaluated for collectibility based on a combination of factors, including aging of trade receivables, write-off experience and past payment trends. The Company is dependent on key suppliers to provide sufficient quantities of inventory at competitive prices. No single supplier represented 10% or more of net purchases in fiscal 2014, 2013 or 2012. A significant majority of the Company’s purchases during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were imported. Management believes that any event causing a disruption of imports from any specific country could be mitigated by moving production to readily available alternative sources.
y.	Insurance
The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and automotive liability claims, and employee-related healthcare claims, up to certain stop-loss limits. Such costs are accrued based on known claims and an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Further, the Company utilizes a cooperative arrangement with a number of other companies to assist in managing certain workers’ compensation and general liability insurance risks for loss occurrences prior to March 1, 2010. The Company’s expenses associated with this relationship could be impacted by the loss history associated with the cooperative as a whole. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated by considering historical claims experience and other actuarial assumptions.
z.	Store Preopening Costs
Non-capital expenditures, such as payroll costs incurred prior to the opening of a new store, are charged to expense in the period in which they were incurred.
aa.	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU No. 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue for the amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. Additionally, ASU No. 2014-09 requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) when it becomes effective. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is not permitted. The impact from adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2014-09 on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations has not yet been determined.
In April 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU No. 2014-08 changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and improves the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. ASU No. 2014-08 also requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations to provide users of financial statements with more information about the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of discontinued operations. ASU No. 2014-08 is effective for all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. Adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In July 2013 the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU No. 2013-11 requires presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit would be presented in the financial statements as a liability and would not be combined with deferred tax assets. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2013-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In February 2013 the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2013-02 requires companies to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, companies are required to present, either on the face of the income statement or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The standard does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. ASU No. 2013-02 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and interim periods within those years. Because this guidance impacts presentation only, the adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2013-02 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Trade_Receivables

Trade Receivables	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Trade Receivables	'
	3	TRADE RECEIVABLES
	Trade receivables are recorded based on revenue recognized for sales of the Company’s merchandise and for other revenue earned by the Company through its marketing partnership programs and international franchise agreements, and are non-interest bearing. The Company evaluates the collectability of trade receivables based on a combination of factors, including aging of trade receivables, write-off experience, analysis of historical trends and expectations of future performance. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded for the amount of trade receivables that are considered unlikely to be collected. When the Company’s collection efforts are unsuccessful, uncollectible trade receivables are charged against the allowance for doubtful accounts. As of September 30, 2014 and 2013 the Company’s trade receivables were net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $131,000 and $147,000, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	4	INVENTORIES
	Inventories as of September 30 were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Finished goods	$	81,678	$	79,087
	Work-in-progress		2,140		2,709
	Raw materials		4,593		4,750
		$	88,411	$	86,546

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	'
	5	PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET
	Property, plant and equipment as of September 30 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Land	$	—		$	1,400
	Building and improvements		—			16,211
	Furniture and equipment		76,251			73,363
	Leasehold improvements		93,288			88,298
	Construction in progress		22,168			—
			191,707			179,272
	Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(114,908	)		(125,825	)
		$	76,799		$	53,447
	Aggregate depreciation and amortization expense of property, plant and equipment in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $14,957,000, $12,275,000 and $12,303,000, respectively. During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded pretax charges of $1,136,000, $754,000 and $1,875,000, respectively, related to the impairment of leasehold improvements and furniture and equipment at certain of its retail locations.
	In September 2013 the Company announced its plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and distribution operations from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to southern New Jersey. As of September 30, 2014 construction in progress includes $20,893,000 related to the relocations, primarily for material handling equipment for the new distribution center and leasehold improvements for the new corporate headquarters. In connection with the planned relocations, on September 5, 2014 the Company sold the building that houses its principal executive offices and distribution facility in a sale and leaseback arrangement and received cash proceeds of $12,522,000, net of transaction costs. Under the agreement the Company may continue to occupy the premises and operate its business through June 30, 2015, with an option to extend the leaseback for up to six additional months. The Company recognized a gain of $4,110,000 on the sale transaction.

Accrued_Expenses_and_Other_Cur

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	'
	6	ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
	As of September 30, accrued expenses and other current liabilities were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Employee compensation and benefits	$	10,936	$	9,243
	Accrued property, plant and equipment additions		5,858		403
	Insurance, primarily self-insurance reserves		5,714		5,899
	Gift certificates and store credits		3,813		4,182
	Deferred rent		3,530		3,400
	Sales and use taxes		2,914		2,876
	Product return reserve		2,708		2,702
	Accounting and legal		1,322		1,106
	Income taxes payable		81		166
	Other		10,964		9,440
		$	47,840	$	39,417

Deferred_Rent_and_Other_Non_Cu

Deferred Rent and Other Non Current Liabilities	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Deferred Rent And Other Non Current Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Deferred Rent and Other Non-Current Liabilities	'
	7	DEFERRED RENT AND OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
	As of September 30, deferred rent and other non-current liabilities were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deferred rent	$	26,906		$	21,132
	Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(3,530	)		(3,400	)
	Non-current deferred rent		23,376			17,732
	Accrued income taxes		1,691			4,218
	Other		163			171
		$	25,230		$	22,121

Line_of_Credit

Line of Credit	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Line of Credit	'
	8	LINE OF CREDIT
	On November 1, 2012 the Company entered into a five-year $61,000,000 senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”), which replaced the Company’s former $55,000,000 credit facility (the “Prior Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility consists of two tranches: 1) a senior secured revolving credit and letter of credit facility of up to $55,000,000 (“Tranche A”) and 2) a senior secured first-in, last-out revolving credit facility of up to $6,000,000 (“Tranche A-1”). The Credit Facility will mature on November 1, 2017. Upon the Company’s request and with the consent of the lender, permitted borrowings under Tranche A may be increased up to an additional $15,000,000, in increments of $2,500,000, up to a Tranche A maximum limit of $70,000,000. Proceeds from advances under the Credit Facility, with certain restrictions, were permitted to be used to repay then existing term loan or other debt (see Note 9), and may be used to provide financing for working capital, letters of credit, capital expenditures, dividends, share repurchases and other general corporate purposes.
	The Credit Facility contains various affirmative and negative covenants and representations and warranties. Under the Credit Facility, the Company is required to maintain minimum Excess Availability (as defined in the related Credit Facility agreement) equal to 10% of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the related Credit Facility agreement). The Credit Facility is secured by a security interest in the Company’s trade receivables, inventory, letter of credit rights, cash, intangibles and certain other assets. The interest rate on outstanding borrowings is equal to, at the Company’s election, either 1) the lender’s base rate plus the applicable margin, or 2) a LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for base rate borrowings is 0.50% for Tranche A borrowings and 2.00% for Tranche A-1 borrowings. The applicable margin for LIBOR rate borrowings is 1.50% for Tranche A borrowings and 3.00% for Tranche A-1 borrowings. Tranche A-1 borrowings are deemed to be the first loans made and the last loans repaid. The Company also pays an unused line fee under the Credit Facility of 0.25% per annum.
	Any amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility may be accelerated and become due and payable immediately and all loan and letter of credit commitments thereunder may be terminated upon an event of default and expiration of any applicable cure period. Events of default include: 1) nonpayment of obligations due under the Credit Facility, 2) failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in the Credit Facility, 3) material misrepresentations, 4) failure to pay, or certain other defaults under, other material indebtedness of the Company, 5) certain bankruptcy or insolvency events, 6) a change of control, 7) material uninsured losses, 8) indictments of the Company or senior management in a material forfeiture action, and 9) customary ERISA defaults, among others.
	In connection with the execution of the Credit Facility, the Company incurred deferred financing costs of $988,000, of which $927,000 was paid in fiscal 2013 and $61,000 was paid in fiscal 2012. These deferred financing costs are being amortized over the term of the Credit Facility agreement and included in “interest expense, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. The Prior Credit Facility had a maturity date of January 13, 2013. Proceeds from advances under the Prior Credit Facility, subject to certain restrictions, could be used to provide financing for working capital, letters of credit, capital expenditures, debt prepayments, dividends, share repurchases and other general corporate purposes. The Prior Credit Facility contained various affirmative and negative covenants and representations and warranties. There were no financial covenant requirements under the Prior Credit Facility unless Excess Availability (as defined in the related Prior Credit Facility agreement) fell below 10% of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the related Prior Credit Facility agreement). Throughout the period of the Prior Credit Facility, the Company exceeded the applicable excess availability requirements under the Prior Credit Facility and was not subject to any financial covenants.
	The Prior Credit Facility was secured by a security interest in the Company’s trade receivables, inventory, real estate interests, letter of credit rights, cash, intangibles and certain other assets. The security interest granted to the Prior Credit Facility lender was, in certain respects, subordinate to the security interest granted to the Company’s Term Loan lenders (see Note 9). The interest rate on outstanding borrowings was equal to, at the Company’s election, either 1) the lender’s prime rate plus the applicable margin, or 2) a LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin. From October 1, 2011 to November 1, 2012 the applicable margins were 0.75% for prime rate borrowings and 1.75% for LIBOR rate borrowings.   The applicable margins for both prime rate and LIBOR rate borrowings were the lowest available margins based upon the availability calculation made in accordance with the Prior Credit Facility.
	As of September 30, 2014 the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facility and $6,424,000 in letters of credit, with $54,576,000 of availability under the Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2013 the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Prior Credit Facility and $5,695,000 in letters of credit, with $55,305,000 of availability under the Prior Credit Facility. As of September 30, 2014 Tranche A borrowings under the Credit Facility would have resulted in interest at a rate between approximately 1.66% and 3.75% per annum, and Tranche A-1 borrowings under the Credit Facility would have resulted in interest at a rate between approximately 3.16% and 5.25% per annum. During fiscal 2014 the Company’s average level of direct borrowings was $24,000, and the Company’s maximum borrowings at any time were $1,400,000. During fiscal 2013 the Company’s average level of direct borrowings (all of which were under the Credit Facility) was $205,000, and the Company’s maximum borrowings at any time were $6,200,000.

LongTerm_Debt

Long-Term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Long-Term Debt	'
	9	LONG-TERM DEBT
	Prior to November 1, 2012 the Company had a Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) for a senior secured Term Loan B due March 13, 2013 (the “Term Loan”), the $90,000,000 proceeds of which were received on April 18, 2007. On November 1, 2012 the Company prepaid the remaining Term Loan balance of $13,427,000 in connection with the execution of its new Credit Facility (see Note 8).
	The Company had $1,830,000 outstanding under an Industrial Revenue Bond (“IRB”) at September 30, 2012. On February 11, 2013 the Company notified the IRB trustee of its intention to redeem all remaining outstanding bonds effective April 3, 2013. As provided under the indenture of trust for the bonds, on April 3, 2013 the IRB trustee drew down $1,830,000 plus accrued interest under the letter of credit issued as security for the bonds, at which time the Company had no further obligations, and the bonds had no further rights, under the indenture.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	10	FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
	The accounting standard for fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard establishes a framework for measuring fair value focused on exit price and creates a fair value hierarchy in order to increase the consistency and comparability of fair value measurements as follows:
	—	Level 1 – Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
	—	Level 2 – Observable market-based inputs or inputs that are corroborated by observable market data
	—	Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data
	At September 30, 2014 and 2013 the Company had cash equivalents of $9,333,000 and $20,425,000, respectively. The Company’s cash equivalents consist of investments in money market funds for which the carrying value approximates fair value (based on Level 1 inputs) due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The carrying values of trade receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments.
	The fair value accounting standards provide a company with the option to report selected financial assets and liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis at fair value and requires such company to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet. The Company has not elected the fair value option for its financial assets and liabilities that had not been previously measured at fair value.

Common_and_Preferred_Stock

Common and Preferred Stock	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Common and Preferred Stock	'
	11	COMMON AND PREFERRED STOCK
	The Company’s Board has approved a program to repurchase up to $10,000,000 of the Company’s outstanding common stock. In July 2014 the Company’s Board extended its authorization of the program from July 31, 2014 to July 31, 2016. Under the program, the Company may repurchase shares from time to time through solicited or unsolicited transactions in the open market or in negotiated or other transactions. No shares have been repurchased under this program as of September 30, 2014.
	The Company has authorization to issue up to 1,656,381 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01, with 300,000 shares authorized for Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”). There was no preferred stock issued or outstanding as of September 30, 2014 or 2013.
	The Series B Preferred Stock can be purchased in units equal to one one-thousandth of a share (the “Series B Units”) under the terms of the Rights Agreement (see Note 12). The holders of the Series B Units are entitled to receive dividends when and if declared on common stock. Series B Units are junior to the common stock for both dividends and liquidations. Each Series B Unit votes as one share of common stock.

Rights_Agreement

Rights Agreement	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Rights Agreement [Abstract]	'
Rights Agreement	'
	12	RIGHTS AGREEMENT
	The Company has an Amended and Restated Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), under which the Company provided and will provide one Right (the “Right”) for each share of Destination Maternity Corporation common stock now or hereafter outstanding. Under certain limited conditions, as defined in the Rights Agreement, each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one Series B Unit at $85 per share, subject to adjustment. The Rights expire on October 9, 2015 (the “Final Expiration Date”).
	The Rights Agreement provides the independent directors of the Company with some discretion in determining when the Distribution Date (as defined in the Rights Agreement) shall occur and the date until which the Rights may be redeemed. In addition, the Rights Agreement exempts from its operation any person that acquires, obtains the right to acquire, or otherwise obtains beneficial ownership of 15.0% or more of the then outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock (an “Acquiring Person”) without any intention of changing or influencing control of the Company provided that such person, as promptly as practicable, divests himself or itself of a sufficient number of shares of common stock so that such person would no longer be an Acquiring Person.
	The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date, which will occur upon 1) the earlier of ten business days following a public announcement that an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 15.0% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, and ten business days following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group owning 15.0% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or 2) such later date as may be determined by action of a majority of the independent directors. The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without conditioning the offer on the redemption of the Rights.
	The Rights can be mandatorily redeemed by action of a majority of the independent directors at any time prior to the earlier of the Final Expiration Date and the Distribution Date for $0.01 per Right. Upon exercise and the occurrence of certain events, as defined in the Rights Agreement, each holder of a Right, except the Acquiring Person, will have the right to receive Series B Units, or common stock of the acquiring company, in each case having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right.

Equity_Award_Plans

Equity Award Plans	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Equity Award Plans	'
	13	EQUITY AWARD PLANS
	In January 2006 the stockholders of the Company approved the adoption of the Amended and Restated 2005 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) and, subsequently, have approved amendments to increase the number of issuable shares. Under the 2005 Plan, employees, directors, consultants and other individuals who provide services to the Company may be granted awards in the form of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or restricted stock units. Up to 2,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock may be issued in respect of awards under the 2005 Plan, as amended, with no more than 1,500,000 of those shares permitted to be issued in respect of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted under the 2005 Plan. Awards of stock options to purchase the Company’s common stock will have exercise prices as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”), but such exercise prices may not be lower than the fair market value of the stock on the date of grant.
	As of September 30, 2014 options to purchase 19,090 shares of common stock were outstanding under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1987 Stock Option Plan (the “1987 Plan”). The 1987 Plan expired on December 9, 2007 and stock options issued under the 1987 Plan will remain outstanding until they have expired, been exercised or have otherwise terminated.
	No stock options have been granted by the Company with an exercise price less than the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant for any of the periods presented. The majority of the stock options issued under the 2005 Plan vest ratably over four or five-year periods, although some stock options had both market price and time vesting requirements, and stock options issued under the 2005 Plan generally expire ten years from the date of grant. Restricted stock awards issued under the 2005 Plan have restrictions that lapse ratably over periods ranging from one to five years. The non-executive chairman of the Company’s Board is granted 6,000 shares of restricted stock and each non-employee director, other than the non-executive chairman, of the Company’s Board is granted 4,000 shares of restricted stock on an annual basis that will vest one year from the date of grant. The Company issues new shares of common stock upon exercise of vested stock options. As of September 30, 2014 there were 1,071,115 shares of the Company’s common stock available for grant under the 2005 Plan, with no more than 608,556 of those shares permitted to be issued in respect of restricted stock or restricted stock units granted under the 2005 Plan.
	Stock option activity for all plans was as follows:
		Outstanding				Weighted				Weighted				Aggregate
		Stock Options				Average				Average				Intrinsic Value
						Exercise Price				Remaining Life
		(in thousands)								(years)				(in thousands)
	Balance—September 30, 2013		548			$	15.35
	Granted		121				27.13
	Exercised		(195	)			11.46
	Forfeited		(19	)			22.86
	Expired		(1	)			5.01
	Balance—September 30, 2014		454			$	19.87				7.2				$504
	Exercisable—September 30, 2014		208			$	17.94				6.1				$406
	During the years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $3,576,000, $2,080,000 and $1,544,000, respectively. The total cash received from these stock option exercises was $271,000, $744,000 and $107,000, respectively, and the actual tax benefit realized for the tax deductions from these option exercises was $1,347,000, $784,000 and $580,000, respectively. During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 options to purchase 176,899, 101,949 and 119,600 shares of common stock, respectively, with aggregate exercise prices of $1,976,000, $890,000 and $1,007,000, respectively, were exercised by the option holders and net-share settled by the Company, such that the Company withheld 68,739, 39,934 and 51,041 shares of the Company’s common stock, respectively, which had a fair market value equal to the aggregate exercise prices of the stock options.
	The weighted-average fair value of stock options granted during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was estimated to be $8.21, $7.98 and $6.17 per option share, respectively. The weighted-average fair value of each option granted is calculated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
	Weighted-average assumptions for option grants were as follows:
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2012
	Expected dividend yield		3.2	%			3.5	%			4.5	%
	Expected price volatility		49.1	%			59.6	%			63	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.4	%			0.8	%			1	%
	Expected life		4.7 years				5.5 years				5.5 years
	Expected dividend yield was determined using a weighted average of the Company’s annualized dividend rate compared to the market price of the Company’s common stock as of the grant date. Expected volatility was determined using a weighted average of the historic volatility of the Company’s common stock as of the option grant date measured over a period equal to the expected life of the grant. Risk-free interest rates were based on the United States Treasury yield curve in effect at the date of the grant. Expected lives were determined using a weighted average of the historic lives of previously issued grants of the Company’s stock options.
	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2014:
		Stock Options Outstanding												Stock Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices	Number				Weighted				Weighted				Number			Weighted
		Outstanding				Average				Average				Exercisable			Average
						Remaining Life				Exercise Price							Exercise Price
		(in thousands)				(years)								(in thousands)
	$   3.52 to $  7.00		33				1.4			$	5.82				33		$	5.82
	7.01 to   12.00		45				5.3				11.89				25			11.89
	12.01 to   19.00		68				7.2				16.28				36			17.59
	19.01 to   20.00		122				8.7				19.81				29			19.89
	20.01 to   23.00		108				6.5				21.79				67			21.95
	23.01 to   31.38		78				9.2				30.81				18			30.45
	$   3.52 to $31.38		454				7.2			$	19.87				208		$	17.94
	Restricted stock activity for the 2005 Plan was as follows:
		Outstanding				Weighted
		Restricted				Average
		Shares				Grant Date
						Fair Value
		(in thousands)
	Nonvested—September 30, 2013		226			$	18.92
	Granted		114				28.75
	Vested		(126	)			19.67
	Forfeited		(14	)			22.68
	Nonvested—September 30, 2014		200			$	23.79
	The Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors established performance goals for the award of performance-based RSUs for four executive officers, under the 2005 Plan, in each of December 2013 (the “Fiscal 2014 Awards”), November 2012 (the “Fiscal 2013 Awards”) and December 2011 (the “Fiscal 2012 Awards”). The RSUs earned, if any, under the awards will be based on the Company’s cumulative operating income, as defined in the applicable award agreement (“RSU Operating Income”) for a specified three-year period (“Performance Period”). The grant of any RSUs under these awards will generally be further contingent on the continued employment of the executive officers with the Company through the dates on which the shares in respect of these RSUs, if any, are issued following the end of the applicable Performance Periods, as well as the achievement of certain minimum levels of RSU Operating Income in the final fiscal year of each applicable Performance Period. Any dividends declared on the shares of the Company’s common stock underlying the RSUs will be credited as additional RSUs based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the dividend record date. The additional RSUs, if any, will be earned on the same terms as the original RSUs.
	The following table sets forth the aggregate minimum and maximum RSUs, excluding RSUs from dividends declared, that may be earned by the executive officers for each fiscal year award cycle.  The minimum RSUs will be earned if the Company’s RSU Operating Income during the Performance Period equals the specified threshold RSU Operating Income.  Additional RSUs are earned ratably for RSU Operating Income that exceeds the specified threshold, up to the maximum amount for RSU Operating Income that equals or exceeds the specified maximum RSU Operating Income.
	Awards		Performance Period		Threshold				Minimum RSUs				Maximum			Maximum RSUs
					RSU Operating Income								RSU Operating Income
	Fiscal 2014 Awards		Fiscal 2014 to 2016		$	124,110,000				15,113			$	149,728,000			45,337
	Fiscal 2013 Awards		Fiscal 2013 to 2015		$	109,582,000				18,541			$	132,201,000			55,621
	Fiscal 2012 Awards		Fiscal 2012 to 2014		$	120,000,000				19,531			$	132,000,000			58,590
	The Performance Period for the Fiscal 2012 Awards ended on September 30, 2014. No RSUs were earned under the Fiscal 2012 Awards because the Company’s RSU Operating Income during the Performance Period was less than the threshold RSU Operating Income required to earn the minimum level of award.
	As of September 30, 2014 $4,675,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to all non-vested equity awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.3 years.
	During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 certain stock option exercises and vesting restricted stock awards were net-share settled by the Company such that the Company withheld shares of the Company’s common stock, which had a fair market value equivalent to the minimum statutory obligation for the applicable income and employment taxes for the awards, and the Company remitted the cash value to the appropriate taxing authorities. The total shares withheld in connection with tax obligations, which were 76,386, 34,125 and 30,849, respectively, during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, are reflected as repurchase of common stock in the accompanying financial statements, and were based on the value of the Company’s common stock on the exercise or vesting date. The remaining shares, net of those withheld, were delivered to the award holders. Total payments for tax obligations to the tax authorities were $2,178,000, $725,000 and $597,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Other_Charges_Net

Other Charges, Net	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Relocation And Withdrawn Proposed Business Combination And Other Professional Fees [Abstract]	'
Other Charges, Net	'
	14	OTHER CHARGES, NET
	In September 2013 the Company announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and distribution operations from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to southern New Jersey. During fiscal 2014 the Company recorded pretax income of $2,072,000 from the gain realized on the sale of its principal headquarters and distribution center building (see Note 5), partially offset by charges incurred for the closure of its existing facilities and the preparation for occupancy of its new facilities.
	On July 2, 2014 the Company made an announcement confirming its interest in a possible business combination with Mothercare plc (“Mothercare”) and confirming the submission of two non-binding written proposals for a possible business combination, both of which had been rejected by the Board of Directors of Mothercare. This announcement was required by the UK Takeover Code in light of press speculation at the time regarding the Company’s interest in a possible combination with Mothercare, the shares of which are traded on the London Stock Exchange. The Board of Directors of Mothercare was unwilling to allow the Company to conduct customary due diligence and to engage in discussions regarding the Company’s proposal, and shareholders of Mothercare did not support the proposal. As a result, on July 25, 2014 the Company announced that it would not make an offer for Mothercare and withdrew its proposal for a possible combination of the businesses. During fiscal 2014 the Company incurred pretax charges of $1,045,000 related to its proposal for a possible business combination.
	On August 11, 2014 the Company announced the resignation of Edward M. Krell as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the appointment of Anthony M. Romano as the Company’s new CEO.  In connection with the management change, the Company incurred pretax charges of $4,256,000, primarily for separation benefits due Mr. Krell, including a lump sum payment of $3,338,000, which is payable in February 2015, and $456,000 for the accelerated vesting of Mr. Krell’s outstanding equity awards (see Note 17).
	A summary of the charges incurred in connection with the facilities relocations, proposed business combination and management and organizational changes for the year ended September 30, 2014 follows (in thousands):
		2014
	Facilities Relocations
	Accelerated depreciation and amortization expense	$	1,127
	Pre-opening rent expense on new corporate headquarters		798
	Gain on sale of building		(4,110	)
	Other		113
	Total facilities relocations		(2,072	)
	Proposed Business Combination
	Legal and other professional fees		1,045
	Management and Organizational Changes
	CEO separation benefits		4,107
	Other		149
	Total management and organizational changes		4,256
	Total other charges, net	$	3,229

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	15	INCOME TAXES
	For the years ended September 30, the income tax provision was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Current provision	$	6,581		$	16,017		$	13,874
	Deferred benefit		(2,975	)		(1,791	)		(1,378	)
	Deferred benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations		—			(1,216	)		—
	Income tax provision	$	3,606		$	13,010		$	12,496
	Federal provision	$	5,109		$	11,485		$	8,517
	State (benefit) provision		(1,674	)		380			2,170
	Foreign provision		171			1,145			1,809
	Income tax provision	$	3,606		$	13,010		$	12,496
	A reconciliation of the statutory federal tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rates for the years ended September 30 follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory federal tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State tax rate, net of federal benefit		3.2			2.7			2.7
	Provision for uncertain income tax positions, net of federal benefit		2.1			1.3			2.4
	Settlements of uncertain income tax positions, net of federal effect		(13.0	)		—			—
	Benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations		—			(3.3	)		—
	Other		(1.7	)		(0.5	)		(0.9	)
	Effective income tax rate		25.6	%		35.2	%		39.2	%
	The deferred tax effects of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s net deferred tax assets as of September 30 were as follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Deferred rent	$	10,138		$	7,964
	Employee benefit accruals		4,610			3,071
	State net operating loss carryforwards		3,141			3,141
	Inventory reserves		1,262			643
	Stock-based compensation		1,134			1,029
	Depreciation and amortization		107			2,245
	Other accruals		2,458			3,203
	Other		2,026			1,631
			24,876			22,927
	Valuation allowance		(1,925	)		(1,925	)
			22,951			21,002
	Deferred tax liability:
	Prepaid expenses		(801	)		(520	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	22,150		$	20,482
	Based on the Company’s historical and projected levels of taxable income, management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the net deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2014. There can be no assurance that the Company will generate taxable earnings or any specific level of earnings in the future.
	During fiscal 2013 the Company recognized a state income tax benefit, net of federal effect and a valuation allowance, of $1,216,000, for the estimated carryforward tax benefit of certain state net operating losses, which had previously been projected to expire unused, based upon recently enacted changes in applicable state income tax regulations. The Company assessed that it was unlikely that sufficient future state specific taxable income will be generated to fully use the available state net operating loss carryforwards, and accordingly, a valuation allowance  has been recorded to recognize only the portion of the deferred tax asset that is considered more likely than not to be realized. The Company does not record state tax benefits associated with temporary differences for certain other states in which it has net operating losses, given the continued historical uncertainty related to realizing such state tax benefits. Had the state tax benefits been reflected for these states, the deferred tax assets (excluding state net operating loss carryforwards) as of September 30, 2014 would be approximately $819,000 higher.
	The accounting standard for uncertain income tax positions clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and also contains guidance on the measurement of uncertain tax positions.
	A reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions for the years ended September 30 follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	4,218		$	4,063		$	2,591
	Additions for current year tax positions		192			476			1,377
	Additions for prior year tax positions		231			331			266
	Reductions of prior year tax positions		(2,700	)		(12	)		(20	)
	Payments		(250	)		(640	)		(151	)
	Balance at end of year	$	1,691		$	4,218		$	4,063
	As of September 30, 2014 gross unrecognized tax benefits included accrued interest and penalties of $508,000. During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 interest and penalties of $(1,391,000), $341,000, and $577,000, respectively, related to unrecognized tax benefits, were included in income tax provision. If recognized, the portion of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits that would impact the Company’s effective tax rate was $1,197,000, net of federal tax benefit.
	As of September 30, 2014 and 2013 the Company had income taxes receivable of $2,542,000 and $648,000, respectively, which are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	During the twelve months subsequent to September 30, 2014 it is reasonably possible that the gross unrecognized tax benefits could potentially increase by approximately $41,000 (of which approximately $23,000, net of federal benefit, would affect the effective tax rate) for uncertain tax positions, including the continued effect of interest on unrecognized tax benefits and limitations on certain potential tax credits, partially offset by the effect of expiring statutes of limitations and settlements.
	The Company’s United States Federal income tax returns for the years ended September 30, 2011 and thereafter remain subject to examination by the United States Internal Revenue Service. The Company also files tax returns in Canada, India, Kuwait and numerous United States state jurisdictions, which have varying statutes of limitations. Generally, Canadian tax returns for tax years ended September 30, 2008 and thereafter, Indian tax returns for tax years ended March 31, 2010 and thereafter, Kuwaiti tax returns for tax years ended September 30, 2013 and thereafter and United States state tax returns for tax years ended September 30, 2010 and thereafter, depending upon the jurisdiction, remain subject to examination. However, the statutes of limitations on certain of the Company’s United States state tax returns remain open for tax years prior to fiscal 2010.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	16	COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
	The Company leases its retail facilities and certain equipment under various non-cancelable operating leases. Certain of these leases have renewal options. Total rent expense (including related occupancy costs, such as insurance, maintenance and taxes, paid to landlords) under operating leases amounted to $58,682,000, $61,253,000 and $65,412,000 in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such amounts include contingent rentals based upon a percentage of sales totaling $1,735,000, $1,574,000 and $1,428,000 in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	In September 2013 the Company announced its plans to relocate its corporate headquarters and distribution operations from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to southern New Jersey. The lease for the new corporate headquarters building was signed September 19, 2013 with rent payments to commence in March 2015, and the lease for a new build-to-suit distribution center building was signed December 3, 2013 with rent payments expected to commence in April 2015. Future minimum payments for the two leases are included in the table below.
	Store, office and distribution facility leases generally provide for payment of direct operating costs in addition to rent.
	Future annual minimum lease payments, for facilities leases excluding such direct operating costs, as well as leases for equipment rental, as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, are as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	15,108
	2015		42,367
	2016		34,379
	2017		30,045
	2018		24,626
	2019 and thereafter		95,670
		$	242,195
	From time to time, the Company is named as a defendant in legal actions arising from normal business activities. Litigation is inherently unpredictable and although the amount of any liability that could arise with respect to currently pending actions cannot be accurately predicted, the Company does not believe that the resolution of any pending action will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Executive_Officer_Employment_A

Executive Officer Employment Agreements (Employment Contracts)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Employment Contracts	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'
Executive Officer Employment Agreements	'
	17	EXECUTIVE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
	Effective August 10, 2014 and as amended December 3, 2014, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Anthony M. Romano, in connection with the hiring of Mr. Romano as the Company’s CEO.  The agreement provided that Mr. Romano’s annual base salary would be $825,000. Base salary earned for Mr. Romano was $117,000 for fiscal 2014. The agreement also provides for salary continuation and severance payments should employment of the executive be terminated under specified conditions, as defined therein. Additionally, Mr. Romano is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on performance and an annual equity grant with a grant date fair value equal to 100% of Mr. Romano’s base salary. For the Company’s fiscal year end change transition period October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 through its 2015 fiscal year ending January 30, 2016, the equity grant will have a grant date fair value equal to 133% of Mr. Romano’s base salary and will be a mixture of 50% stock options, 25% time-vested restricted stock or restricted stock units, and 25% performance-based restricted stock units. The agreement continues in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreement.
	During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company had an employment agreement with Edward M. Krell, the Company’s former CEO. Base salary earned for Mr. Krell was $681,000, $750,000 and $750,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Effective August 10, 2014 Mr. Krell resigned as CEO.  In connection with Mr. Krell’s resignation as CEO, the Company entered into a Separation Agreement with Mr. Krell (the "Separation Agreement"). The Separation Agreement provides that Mr. Krell will receive a lump sum payment of $3,338,000, which is payable in February 2015, accelerated vesting of stock option and restricted stock awards and continuation of certain insurance and fringe benefits for up to three years. The Separation Agreement also provides for the restrictive covenants set forth in Mr. Krell’s employment agreement to continue in effect until three years after Mr. Krell’s separation from the Company.
	The Company has an employment agreement with Christopher F. Daniel, the Company’s President. The agreement provided that Mr. Daniel’s annual base salary would be $525,000. On December 4, 2013 the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Daniel’s annual base salary from $525,000 to $535,000. Base salary earned for Mr. Daniel was $533,000, $525,000 and $525,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The agreement also provides for salary continuation and severance payments should employment of the executive be terminated under specified conditions, as defined therein. Additionally, Mr. Daniel is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on performance. The agreement continues in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreement.
	The Company has an employment agreement with Judd P. Tirnauer, the Company’s Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Tirnauer was promoted from Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer to Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer effective November 22, 2011. On November 15, 2012 the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Tirnauer’s annual base salary from $375,000 to $385,000, effective December 1, 2012. On December 4, 2013 the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Tirnauer’s annual base salary from $385,000 to $405,000. Base salary earned for Mr. Tirnauer was $402,000, $383,000 and $375,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The agreement also provides for salary continuation and severance payments should employment of the executive be terminated under specified conditions, as defined therein. Additionally, Mr. Tirnauer is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on performance. The agreement continues in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreement.
	The Company has an employment agreement with Ronald J. Masciantonio, the Company’s Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer. Effective November 22, 2011 Mr. Masciantonio was promoted from Senior Vice President & General Counsel to Executive Vice President & General Counsel and, effective November 15, 2012 Mr. Masciantonio was promoted to the additional position of Chief Administrative Officer and continued to serve as the Company’s General Counsel until August 16, 2013. On November 15, 2012 the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Masciantonio’s annual base salary from $320,000 to $360,000, effective December 1, 2012. On December 4, 2013 the Compensation Committee approved an increase to Mr. Masciantonio’s annual base salary from $360,000 to $390,000. Base salary earned for Mr. Masciantonio was $385,000, $353,000 and $320,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The agreement also provides for salary continuation and severance payments should employment of the executive be terminated under specified conditions, as defined therein. Additionally, Mr. Masciantonio is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on performance. The agreement continues in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreement.

Postretirement_Obligations

Postretirement Obligations	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Postretirement Obligations	'
	18	POSTRETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
	Effective September 30, 2008, Dan W. Matthias, the Company’s former Chairman of the Board and Former CEO, retired as CEO. In connection with Mr. Matthias’ retirement as CEO, in September 2008 the Company entered into a Transition Agreement (the “D. Matthias Transition Agreement”) with Mr. Matthias, the term of which expired on September 30, 2012. The D. Matthias Transition Agreement provided that Mr. Matthias made himself available to the Company during the term of the agreement for strategic planning, corporate development and other matters as requested by the Board or the Company’s CEO. Subsequent to his retirement, Mr. Matthias continued to serve the Company as non-executive Chairman of the Board until January 2010 and was thereafter available to the Company as stipulated in the D. Matthias Transition Agreement. In consideration of Mr. Matthias’ advisory and board services (and in lieu of all other director compensation), the Company paid Mr. Matthias an annual retainer of $200,000 and continued certain insurance and fringe benefits during the term of the D. Matthias Transition Agreement. The D. Matthias Transition Agreement also provided for the restrictive covenants set forth in Mr. Matthias’ employment agreement to continue in effect until September 30, 2014.
	Effective September 30, 2010 Rebecca C. Matthias, the Company’s former President and Chief Creative Officer, retired. In connection with Ms. Matthias’ scheduled retirement, in November 2009 the Company entered into a Transition Agreement (the “R. Matthias Transition Agreement”) with Ms. Matthias, the term of which expired on September 30, 2012. In addition to certain preretirement employment arrangements, the R. Matthias Transition Agreement provided that Ms. Matthias made herself available to the Company during the term of the agreement on a limited basis for strategic planning, merchandising, public relations, publicity and other matters as requested by the Company’s CEO. The R. Matthias Transition Agreement also provided for the restrictive covenants set forth in Ms. Matthias’ employment agreement to continue in effect until September 30, 2014.
	The Company had Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements (the “SERP Agreement(s)”) with Mr. and Ms. Matthias (the “SERP Executives”), which were effective March 2, 2007. Pursuant to the D. Matthias Transition Agreement, Mr. Matthias received SERP Agreement benefits totaling $3,960,000, which were paid to Mr. Matthias in installments that commenced on April 1, 2009, with the final installment paid on October 1, 2012. The Company paid SERP Agreement benefits to Mr. Matthias totaling $150,000  and $600,000 in fiscal 2013 and 2012, respectively. Pursuant to the R. Matthias Transition Agreement, Ms. Matthias received a lump sum payment of the SERP Agreement benefits of $4,166,000 on December 16, 2010. No further amounts are payable to Mr. or Ms. Matthias pursuant to their SERP Agreements.
	The Company accounted for the SERP Agreements in accordance with the accounting requirements for defined benefit pension and other post-retirement plans.
	Changes in the benefit obligation under the SERP Agreements as of September 30 were as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	150		$	732
	Interest cost		—			18
	Benefit payments		(150	)		(600	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year		—			150
	Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities		—			(150	)
	Non-current benefit obligation at end of year	$	—		$	—

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Postemployment Benefits [Abstract]	'
Employee Benefit Plans	'
	19	EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
	The Company has a 401(k) savings plan for all eligible employees who elect to participate. Participating employees can contribute up to 20% of their eligible compensation. Employees who meet certain criteria are eligible for a matching contribution from the Company based on a sliding scale. Company matches are made in the first quarter of the succeeding calendar year and vest over a period of approximately six years from each employee’s commencement of employment with the Company. Company matching contributions totaling $75,000, $121,000 and $39,000, which were net of $63,000, $12,000 and $100,000 of cumulative plan forfeitures, were made in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, the Company may make discretionary contributions to the plan, which vest over a period of approximately six years from each employee’s commencement of employment with the Company. The Company has not made any discretionary contributions.

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)	'
	20	QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
	Quarterly financial results for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Quarter Ended
	Fiscal 2014	9/30/14			6/30/14		3/31/14		12/31/13
	Net sales	$	122,048		$	134,020	$	126,053	$	134,838
	Gross profit		60,186			69,599		68,518		71,155
	Net income (loss)		(2,485	)		5,476		3,247		4,259
	Net income (loss) per share—Basic		(0.18	)		0.41		0.24		0.32
	Net income (loss) per share—Diluted		(0.18	)		0.4		0.24		0.31
		Quarter Ended
	Fiscal 2013	9/30/13			6/30/13		3/31/13		12/31/12
	Net sales	$	128,250		$	141,886	$	134,859	$	135,264
	Gross profit		69,525			77,288		72,980		71,168
	Net income		5,633			8,591		5,877		3,842
	Net income per share—Basic		0.42			0.65		0.44		0.29
	Net income per share—Diluted		0.42			0.64		0.44		0.29
	The Company’s business, like that of other retailers, is seasonal. The Company’s quarterly net sales have historically been highest in its third fiscal quarter, corresponding to the peak Spring selling season. Given the historically higher sales level in its third fiscal quarter and the relatively fixed nature of most of the Company’s operating expenses, the Company has typically generated a very significant percentage of its full year operating income and net income during its third fiscal quarter.

Segment_and_Enterprise_Wide_Di

Segment and Enterprise Wide Disclosures	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment and Enterprise Wide Disclosures	'
	21	SEGMENT AND ENTERPRISE WIDE DISCLOSURES
	Operating Segment.    For purposes of the disclosure requirements for segments of a business enterprise, the Company has determined that its business is comprised of one operating segment: the design, manufacture and sale of maternity apparel and related accessories. While the Company offers a wide range of products for sale, the substantial portion of its products are initially distributed through the same distribution facilities, many of the Company’s products are manufactured at common contract manufacturer production facilities, the Company’s products are marketed through a common marketing department, and these products are sold to a similar customer base, consisting of expectant mothers.
	Geographic Information.    Geographic revenue information is allocated based on the country in which the products or services are sold, and in the case of international franchise revenues, on the location of the customer. Information concerning the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net Sales to Unaffiliated Customers
	United States	$	489,026	$	512,585	$	514,779
	Foreign		27,933		27,674		26,697
		September 30,		September 30,
		2014		2013
	Long-Lived Assets, Net
	United States	$	78,033	$	53,992
	Foreign		3,100		1,799
	Major Customers.    For the periods presented, the Company did not have any one customer who represented more than 10% of its net sales.

Interest_Expense_Net

Interest Expense, Net	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Banking And Thrift Interest [Abstract]	'
Interest Expense, Net	'
	22	INTEREST EXPENSE, NET
	Interest expense, net for the years ended September 30 is comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Interest expense	$	418		$	557		$	1,256
	Interest income		(14	)		(25	)		(41	)
	Interest expense, net	$	404		$	532		$	1,215

Related_Party_Transactions

Related Party Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Party Transactions	'
	23	RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
	There is a husband and wife relationship between Mr. Matthias and Ms. Matthias (see Note 18). There are no family relationships among any of the Company’s current executive officers or directors.

Schedule_of_Valuation_and_Qual

Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	'
	DESTINATION MATERNITY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
	SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
	(in thousands)
		Balance at		Additions		Deductions and		Balance at
		beginning		charged to		reclassifications		end of
		of period (1)		costs and				period (1)
				expenses
	Year Ended September 30, 2014
	Product return reserve	$	2,702	$	6	$	—	$	2,708
	Year Ended September 30, 2013
	Product return reserve	$	2,225	$	477	$	—	$	2,702
	Year Ended September 30, 2012
	Product return reserve	$	2,083	$	142	$	—	$	2,225
	-1	As of September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company’s product return reserve reflects the estimated gross sales value of estimated product returns, which had an estimated cost value of $1,173, $1,160 and $919, respectively.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Financial Statement Presentation	'
	a.	Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
	The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries: Cave Springs, Inc., Mothers Work Canada, Inc. and Destination Maternity Apparel Private Limited. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year-End	'
	b.	Fiscal Year-End
	The Company has historically operated on a fiscal year ending September 30 of each year. On December 4, 2014 the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a change in its fiscal year end from September 30 to the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year. The fiscal year end change will align the Company’s reporting cycle with the National Retail Federation fiscal calendar. The change will be effective with the Company’s fiscal year 2015, which will begin February 1, 2015 and end January 30, 2016, and will result in a four-month transition period beginning October 1, 2014 and ending January 31, 2015. All references to fiscal years of the Company refer to the fiscal years ended on September 30 in those years, unless otherwise indicated. For example, the Company’s “fiscal 2014” ended on September 30, 2014.
Use of Estimates	'
	c.	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that may affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	d.	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, cash in the bank and short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. Book cash overdrafts, which are outstanding checks in excess of funds on deposit, of $7,811,000 and $4,730,000 were included in accounts payable as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The Company maintains cash accounts that, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses from maintaining cash accounts in excess of such limits. Management believes that it is not exposed to any significant credit risks on its cash accounts.
Inventories	'
	e.	Inventories
	Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the “first-in, first-out” (FIFO) method. Inventories of goods manufactured by the Company include the cost of materials, freight, direct labor, and manufacturing and distribution overhead.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	f.	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed for financial reporting purposes on a straight-line basis, using service lives ranging principally from five to ten years for furniture and equipment and forty years for the building. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or their useful life. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts with any resulting gain or loss included in net income. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred, except for the capitalization of major renewals and betterments that extend the life of the asset. Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever adverse events, or changes in circumstances or business climate, indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors used in the evaluation include, but are not limited to, management’s plans for future operations, brand initiatives, recent operating results and projected cash flows. If the associated undiscounted cash flows are insufficient to support the recorded asset, an impairment loss is recognized to reduce the carrying value of the asset. The amount of the impairment loss is determined by comparing the fair value of the asset with the carrying value. During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded impairment write-downs of property, plant and equipment totaling $1,136,000, $754,000 and $1,875,000, respectively, on a pretax basis.
Intangible Assets	'
	g.	Intangible Assets
	Intangible assets with definite useful lives consist primarily of patent and lease acquisition costs. The Company capitalizes legal costs incurred to defend its patents when a successful outcome is deemed probable and to the extent of an evident increase in the value of the patents. Intangible assets are amortized over the shorter of their useful life or, if applicable, the lease term. Management reviews the carrying amount of these intangible assets as impairment indicators arise, to assess the continued recoverability based on future undiscounted cash flows and operating results from the related asset, future asset utilization and changes in market conditions. As of September 30, 2014 the Company has capitalized $2,952,000 of legal costs incurred in connection with a lawsuit asserting infringement of Company patents, of which $1,859,000 and $1,093,000 were incurred during fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively. During fiscal 2013 and 2012 the Company recorded write-downs of intangible assets totaling $32,000 and $1,000, respectively, on a pretax basis. The Company has not identified any indefinite-lived intangible assets. Aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $240,000, $149,000 and $142,000, respectively.
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s intangible assets as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our next four future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	106
	2015		316
	2016		309
	2017		301
	2018		292
Interest Rate Derivative	'
	h.	Interest Rate Derivative
	The Company mitigated a portion of its floating rate interest risk on variable rate long-term debt through an interest rate swap agreement that expired on April 18, 2012. On the date the derivative instrument was entered into, the Company designated it as a hedge of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (“cash flow hedge”) and recognized the derivative on the balance sheet at fair value. In accordance with applicable accounting standards for derivative instruments, changes in the fair value of a derivative that is designated as, and meets all the criteria for, a cash flow hedge were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified into earnings as the underlying hedged item affected earnings. The Company formally documented the relationship between the hedging instrument and hedged items. The Company formally assessed at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis, whether the derivative was highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of the hedged item. For fiscal 2012 the Company’s interest rate swap was determined to have no ineffectiveness.
Deferred Financing Costs	'
	i.	Deferred Financing Costs
	Deferred financing costs are amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt agreement. Amortization expense of deferred financing costs in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $198,000, $203,000 and $105,000, respectively. In connection with debt extinguishments, in fiscal 2013 and 2012 the Company wrote off $9,000 and $22,000, respectively, of unamortized deferred financing costs (see Note 9). In connection with its current credit facility entered into on November 1, 2012, the Company incurred approximately $988,000 in deferred financing costs, of which $927,000 was paid in fiscal 2013 and $61,000 was paid in fiscal 2012 (see Note 8).
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s deferred financing costs as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	65
	2015		198
	2016		198
	2017		148
Deferred Rent	'
	j.	Deferred Rent
	Rent expense on operating leases, including rent holidays and scheduled rent increases, is recorded on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease commencing on the date the Company takes possession of the leased property, which for stores is generally four to six weeks prior to a store’s opening date and for the Company’s new headquarters building was approximately ten months prior to the planned January 2015 relocation. The net excess of rent expense over the actual cash paid has been recorded as a deferred rent liability in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Tenant improvement allowances received from landlords are also included in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as deferred rent liabilities and are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease from the possession date.
Treasury (Reacquired) Shares	'
	k.	Treasury (Reacquired) Shares
	Shares repurchased are retired and treated as authorized but unissued shares, with the cost in excess of par value of the reacquired shares charged to additional paid-in capital and the par value charged to common stock.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	l.	Fair Value of Financial Instruments
	The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those instruments. The majority of the Company’s long-term debt bore interest at variable rates, which adjusted based on market conditions, and the carrying value of the long-term debt approximated fair value. The fair value of the Company’s debt was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis based on interest rates available to the Company. A significant portion of the Company’s floating rate interest risk on variable rate long-term debt was mitigated through an interest rate swap agreement that expired on April 18, 2012.
Revenue Recognition, Sales Returns and Allowances	'
	m.	Revenue Recognition, Sales Returns and Allowances
	Revenue is recognized at the point of sale for retail store sales, including leased department sales, or when merchandise is delivered to customers for licensed brand product and Internet sales, and when merchandise is shipped to international franchisees. Leased department revenue is remitted to us, less a fixed percentage of the net sales earned by the lease partner (as stipulated in each agreement), which is considered a store expense and included in selling, general and administrative expenses (see Note 2q). A liability is established for the retail value of gift cards sold and merchandise credits issued. The liability is relieved and revenue is recognized when gift cards or merchandise credits are redeemed by customers as tender for merchandise purchased. Allowances for returns are recorded as a reduction of revenue, based on the Company’s historical experience. Revenues are recorded net of applicable sales taxes.
Other Revenues	'
	n.	Other Revenues
	Included in net sales are revenues earned by the Company through a variety of marketing partnership programs utilizing the Company’s opt-in customer database and various in-store marketing initiatives, focused on baby and parent-related products and services. Revenue from marketing partnership programs is recognized when goods or services are provided. Also included in net sales are fees and royalties related to international franchise agreements. International franchise fees are earned by the Company when all material services or conditions related to the international franchise agreement have been substantially performed or satisfied and royalties are earned based on net sales of the Company’s international franchisees and may include minimum guaranteed royalties.
Cost of Goods Sold	'
	o.	Cost of Goods Sold
	Cost of goods sold in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income includes: merchandise costs (including customs duty expenses), expenses related to inventory shrinkage, product-related corporate expenses (including expenses related to payroll, benefit costs and operating expenses of the Company’s buying departments), inventory reserves (including lower of cost or market reserves), inbound freight charges, purchasing and receiving costs, inspection costs, warehousing costs, internal transfer costs, and the other costs of the Company’s distribution network.
Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs	'
	p.	Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs
	The Company includes shipping and handling revenue earned from its Internet activities in net sales. Shipping and handling costs, which are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income, include shipping supplies, related labor costs and third-party shipping costs.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses	'
	q.	Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
	Selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income include advertising and marketing expenses, corporate administrative expenses, store expenses (including store payroll and store occupancy expenses), and store opening expenses.
Advertising Costs	'
	r.	Advertising Costs
	The Company expenses the costs of advertising when the advertising first occurs. Advertising expenses, including Internet advertising expenses, were $18,187,000, $16,984,000 and $13,878,000 in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Stock-based Compensation	'
	s.	Stock-based Compensation
	The Company recognizes employee stock-based compensation as a cost in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income. Stock-based awards are measured at the grant date fair value and the compensation expense is recorded generally on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. Excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises and restricted stock vesting, which are recognized in stockholders’ equity, are reflected as financing cash inflows.
Store Closing, Asset Impairment and Asset Disposal Expenses	'
	t.	Store Closing, Asset Impairment and Asset Disposal Expenses
	Store closing expenses include lease termination fees, gains or losses on disposal of closed store assets and recognition of unamortized deferred rent. Asset impairment expenses represent losses recognized to reduce the carrying value of impaired long-lived assets. Asset disposal expenses represent gains or losses on disposal of assets other than in connection with store closings, including assets disposed from remodeling or relocation of stores.
Income Taxes	'
	u.	Income Taxes
	The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities as well as from net operating loss carryforwards. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
	Under the accounting standard for uncertain income tax positions, recognition of a tax benefit occurs when a tax position is estimated by management to be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based solely on its technical merits. Derecognition of a previously recognized tax position would occur if it is subsequently determined that the tax position no longer meets the more-likely-than-not threshold of being sustained. Recognized tax positions are measured at the largest amount that management believes has a greater than 50% likelihood of being finalized. The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax provision.
Net Income Per Share and Cash Dividends	'
	v.	Net Income per Share and Cash Dividends
	Basic net income (or earnings) per share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, excluding restricted stock awards for which the restrictions have not lapsed. Diluted net income per share (“Diluted EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, after giving effect to the potential dilution, if applicable, from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards and exercise of stock options into shares of common stock as if those stock options were exercised. Common shares issuable in connection with the award of performance-based restricted stock units (“RSUs”) are excluded from the calculation of EPS until the RSUs’ performance conditions are achieved and the shares in respect of the RSUs become issuable (see Note 13).
	The following table summarizes those effects for the diluted net income per share calculation (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net income	$	10,497	$	23,943	$	19,372
	Net income per share—Basic	$	0.78	$	1.8	$	1.48
	Net income per share—Diluted	$	0.77	$	1.78	$	1.46
	Average number of shares outstanding—Basic		13,451		13,272		13,096
	Incremental shares from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options		73		108		122
	Incremental shares from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards		48		59		49
	Average number of shares outstanding—Diluted		13,572		13,439		13,267
	In addition to performance-based RSUs, for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 stock options and unvested restricted stock totaling approximately 201,000, 196,000 and 321,000 shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of Diluted EPS as their effect would have been antidilutive.
	During fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company paid cash dividends totaling $10,772,000 ($0.7875 per share), $9,799,000 ($0.725 per share) and $9,325,000 ($0.70 per share), respectively. On November 13, 2014 the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable on December 26, 2014, which will require approximately $2,700,000 of available cash.
Statements of Cash Flows	'
	w.	Statements of Cash Flows
	In fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 the Company paid interest, including payments made on its interest rate swap agreement in fiscal 2012 (see Note 9), of $211,000, $360,000 and $1,359,000, respectively, and made income tax payments, net of refunds, of $8,460,000, $16,188,000 and $7,432,000, respectively.
Business and Credit Risk	'
	x.	Business and Credit Risk
	Financial instruments, primarily cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables, potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. The Company limits its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by placing such investments in highly liquid funds and instruments. Trade receivables associated with third-party credit cards are processed by financial institutions, which are monitored for financial stability. Trade receivables associated with licensed brand, leased department, international franchise and other relationships are evaluated for collectibility based on a combination of factors, including aging of trade receivables, write-off experience and past payment trends. The Company is dependent on key suppliers to provide sufficient quantities of inventory at competitive prices. No single supplier represented 10% or more of net purchases in fiscal 2014, 2013 or 2012. A significant majority of the Company’s purchases during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012 were imported. Management believes that any event causing a disruption of imports from any specific country could be mitigated by moving production to readily available alternative sources.
Insurance	'
	y.	Insurance
	The Company is self-insured for workers’ compensation, general liability and automotive liability claims, and employee-related healthcare claims, up to certain stop-loss limits. Such costs are accrued based on known claims and an estimate of incurred but not reported claims. Further, the Company utilizes a cooperative arrangement with a number of other companies to assist in managing certain workers’ compensation and general liability insurance risks for loss occurrences prior to March 1, 2010. The Company’s expenses associated with this relationship could be impacted by the loss history associated with the cooperative as a whole. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated by considering historical claims experience and other actuarial assumptions.
Store Preopening Costs	'
	z.	Store Preopening Costs
	Non-capital expenditures, such as payroll costs incurred prior to the opening of a new store, are charged to expense in the period in which they were incurred.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	aa.	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	In May 2014 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU No. 2014-09 requires an entity to recognize revenue for the amount of consideration to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. Additionally, ASU No. 2014-09 requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The standard will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) when it becomes effective. ASU No. 2014-09 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is not permitted. The impact from adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2014-09 on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations has not yet been determined.
	In April 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity. ASU No. 2014-08 changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and improves the definition of discontinued operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. ASU No. 2014-08 also requires expanded disclosures for discontinued operations to provide users of financial statements with more information about the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of discontinued operations. ASU No. 2014-08 is effective for all disposals (or classifications as held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. Adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2014-08 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	In July 2013 the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. ASU No. 2013-11 requires presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit would be presented in the financial statements as a liability and would not be combined with deferred tax assets. ASU No. 2013-11 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and interim periods within those years. Adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2013-11 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
	In February 2013 the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU No. 2013-02 requires companies to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, companies are required to present, either on the face of the income statement or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income but only if the amount reclassified is required under GAAP to be reclassified to net income in its entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required under GAAP to be reclassified in their entirety to net income, an entity is required to cross-reference to other disclosures required under GAAP that provide additional detail about those amounts. The standard does not change the current requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in financial statements. ASU No. 2013-02 is effective for financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and interim periods within those years. Because this guidance impacts presentation only, the adoption of the new requirements of ASU No. 2013-02 did not have any impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Estimated Amortization Expense of Intangible Assets	'
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s intangible assets as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our next four future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	106
	2015		316
	2016		309
	2017		301
	2018		292
Estimated Amortization Expense of Deferred Financing Costs	'
	Estimated amortization expense of the Company’s deferred financing costs as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, is as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	65
	2015		198
	2016		198
	2017		148
Net Income Per Share	'
	The following table summarizes those effects for the diluted net income per share calculation (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net income	$	10,497	$	23,943	$	19,372
	Net income per share—Basic	$	0.78	$	1.8	$	1.48
	Net income per share—Diluted	$	0.77	$	1.78	$	1.46
	Average number of shares outstanding—Basic		13,451		13,272		13,096
	Incremental shares from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options		73		108		122
	Incremental shares from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards		48		59		49
	Average number of shares outstanding—Diluted		13,572		13,439		13,267

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories as of September 30 were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Finished goods	$	81,678	$	79,087
	Work-in-progress		2,140		2,709
	Raw materials		4,593		4,750
		$	88,411	$	86,546

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N1

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Property Plant And Equipment [Abstract]	'
Summary of Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, plant and equipment as of September 30 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Land	$	—		$	1,400
	Building and improvements		—			16,211
	Furniture and equipment		76,251			73,363
	Leasehold improvements		93,288			88,298
	Construction in progress		22,168			—
			191,707			179,272
	Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		(114,908	)		(125,825	)
		$	76,799		$	53,447

Accrued_Expenses_and_Other_Cur1

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]	'
Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities	'
	As of September 30, accrued expenses and other current liabilities were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Employee compensation and benefits	$	10,936	$	9,243
	Accrued property, plant and equipment additions		5,858		403
	Insurance, primarily self-insurance reserves		5,714		5,899
	Gift certificates and store credits		3,813		4,182
	Deferred rent		3,530		3,400
	Sales and use taxes		2,914		2,876
	Product return reserve		2,708		2,702
	Accounting and legal		1,322		1,106
	Income taxes payable		81		166
	Other		10,964		9,440
		$	47,840	$	39,417

Deferred_Rent_and_Other_Non_Cu1

Deferred Rent and Other Non Current Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Deferred Rent And Other Non Current Liabilities [Abstract]	'
Deferred Rent and Other Non-Current Liabilities	'
	As of September 30, deferred rent and other non-current liabilities were comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deferred rent	$	26,906		$	21,132
	Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(3,530	)		(3,400	)
	Non-current deferred rent		23,376			17,732
	Accrued income taxes		1,691			4,218
	Other		163			171
		$	25,230		$	22,121

Equity_Award_Plans_Tables

Equity Award Plans (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs Sharebased Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock Option Activity for All Plans	'
	Stock option activity for all plans was as follows:
		Outstanding				Weighted				Weighted				Aggregate
		Stock Options				Average				Average				Intrinsic Value
						Exercise Price				Remaining Life
		(in thousands)								(years)				(in thousands)
	Balance—September 30, 2013		548			$	15.35
	Granted		121				27.13
	Exercised		(195	)			11.46
	Forfeited		(19	)			22.86
	Expired		(1	)			5.01
	Balance—September 30, 2014		454			$	19.87				7.2				$504
	Exercisable—September 30, 2014		208			$	17.94				6.1				$406
Weighted-Average Assumptions for Option Grants	'
	Weighted-average assumptions for option grants were as follows:
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014				2013				2012
	Expected dividend yield		3.2	%			3.5	%			4.5	%
	Expected price volatility		49.1	%			59.6	%			63	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.4	%			0.8	%			1	%
	Expected life		4.7 years				5.5 years				5.5 years
Summarizes Information about Stock Options Outstanding	'
	The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2014:
		Stock Options Outstanding												Stock Options Exercisable
	Range of Exercise Prices	Number				Weighted				Weighted				Number			Weighted
		Outstanding				Average				Average				Exercisable			Average
						Remaining Life				Exercise Price							Exercise Price
		(in thousands)				(years)								(in thousands)
	$   3.52 to $  7.00		33				1.4			$	5.82				33		$	5.82
	7.01 to   12.00		45				5.3				11.89				25			11.89
	12.01 to   19.00		68				7.2				16.28				36			17.59
	19.01 to   20.00		122				8.7				19.81				29			19.89
	20.01 to   23.00		108				6.5				21.79				67			21.95
	23.01 to   31.38		78				9.2				30.81				18			30.45
	$   3.52 to $31.38		454				7.2			$	19.87				208		$	17.94
Restricted Stock Activity	'
	Restricted stock activity for the 2005 Plan was as follows:
		Outstanding				Weighted
		Restricted				Average
		Shares				Grant Date
						Fair Value
		(in thousands)
	Nonvested—September 30, 2013		226			$	18.92
	Granted		114				28.75
	Vested		(126	)			19.67
	Forfeited		(14	)			22.68
	Nonvested—September 30, 2014		200			$	23.79
Summary of Cumulative Minimum and Maximum RSUs Award Activity	'
	The following table sets forth the aggregate minimum and maximum RSUs, excluding RSUs from dividends declared, that may be earned by the executive officers for each fiscal year award cycle.  The minimum RSUs will be earned if the Company’s RSU Operating Income during the Performance Period equals the specified threshold RSU Operating Income.  Additional RSUs are earned ratably for RSU Operating Income that exceeds the specified threshold, up to the maximum amount for RSU Operating Income that equals or exceeds the specified maximum RSU Operating Income.
	Awards		Performance Period		Threshold				Minimum RSUs				Maximum			Maximum RSUs
					RSU Operating Income								RSU Operating Income
	Fiscal 2014 Awards		Fiscal 2014 to 2016		$	124,110,000				15,113			$	149,728,000			45,337
	Fiscal 2013 Awards		Fiscal 2013 to 2015		$	109,582,000				18,541			$	132,201,000			55,621
	Fiscal 2012 Awards		Fiscal 2012 to 2014		$	120,000,000				19,531			$	132,000,000			58,590

Other_Charges_Net_Tables

Other Charges, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Relocation And Withdrawn Proposed Business Combination And Other Professional Fees [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Charges Incurred In Facilities Relocations, Proposed Business Combination and Management and Organizational Changes	'
	A summary of the charges incurred in connection with the facilities relocations, proposed business combination and management and organizational changes for the year ended September 30, 2014 follows (in thousands):
		2014
	Facilities Relocations
	Accelerated depreciation and amortization expense	$	1,127
	Pre-opening rent expense on new corporate headquarters		798
	Gain on sale of building		(4,110	)
	Other		113
	Total facilities relocations		(2,072	)
	Proposed Business Combination
	Legal and other professional fees		1,045
	Management and Organizational Changes
	CEO separation benefits		4,107
	Other		149
	Total management and organizational changes		4,256
	Total other charges, net	$	3,229

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Tax Provision	'
	For the years ended September 30, the income tax provision was comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Current provision	$	6,581		$	16,017		$	13,874
	Deferred benefit		(2,975	)		(1,791	)		(1,378	)
	Deferred benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations		—			(1,216	)		—
	Income tax provision	$	3,606		$	13,010		$	12,496
	Federal provision	$	5,109		$	11,485		$	8,517
	State (benefit) provision		(1,674	)		380			2,170
	Foreign provision		171			1,145			1,809
	Income tax provision	$	3,606		$	13,010		$	12,496
Reconciliations of the Statutory Federal Tax Rate to the Company's Effective Income Tax Rates	'
	A reconciliation of the statutory federal tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rates for the years ended September 30 follows:
		2014			2013			2012
	Statutory federal tax rate		35	%		35	%		35	%
	State tax rate, net of federal benefit		3.2			2.7			2.7
	Provision for uncertain income tax positions, net of federal benefit		2.1			1.3			2.4
	Settlements of uncertain income tax positions, net of federal effect		(13.0	)		—			—
	Benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations		—			(3.3	)		—
	Other		(1.7	)		(0.5	)		(0.9	)
	Effective income tax rate		25.6	%		35.2	%		39.2	%
Deferred Tax Effects of Temporary Differences Giving Rise to the Company's Net Deferred Tax Assets	'
	The deferred tax effects of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s net deferred tax assets as of September 30 were as follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Deferred rent	$	10,138		$	7,964
	Employee benefit accruals		4,610			3,071
	State net operating loss carryforwards		3,141			3,141
	Inventory reserves		1,262			643
	Stock-based compensation		1,134			1,029
	Depreciation and amortization		107			2,245
	Other accruals		2,458			3,203
	Other		2,026			1,631
			24,876			22,927
	Valuation allowance		(1,925	)		(1,925	)
			22,951			21,002
	Deferred tax liability:
	Prepaid expenses		(801	)		(520	)
	Net deferred tax assets	$	22,150		$	20,482
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies	'
	A reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions for the years ended September 30 follows (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Balance at beginning of year	$	4,218		$	4,063		$	2,591
	Additions for current year tax positions		192			476			1,377
	Additions for prior year tax positions		231			331			266
	Reductions of prior year tax positions		(2,700	)		(12	)		(20	)
	Payments		(250	)		(640	)		(151	)
	Balance at end of year	$	1,691		$	4,218		$	4,063

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Future Annual Minimum Operating Lease Payments	'
	Future annual minimum lease payments, for facilities leases excluding such direct operating costs, as well as leases for equipment rental, as of September 30, 2014, during our fiscal year end change transition period from October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 and our future fiscal years ending on the Saturday nearest January 31 of each year, are as follows (in thousands):
	Fiscal Year
	October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$	15,108
	2015		42,367
	2016		34,379
	2017		30,045
	2018		24,626
	2019 and thereafter		95,670
		$	242,195

Postretirement_Obligations_Tab

Postretirement Obligations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Changes in the benefit obligation under Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements	'
	Changes in the benefit obligation under the SERP Agreements as of September 30 were as follows (in thousands):
		2013			2012
	Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	150		$	732
	Interest cost		—			18
	Benefit payments		(150	)		(600	)
	Benefit obligation at end of year		—			150
	Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities		—			(150	)
	Non-current benefit obligation at end of year	$	—		$	—

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio1

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Quarterly Financial Results	'
	Quarterly financial results for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 were as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Quarter Ended
	Fiscal 2014	9/30/14			6/30/14		3/31/14		12/31/13
	Net sales	$	122,048		$	134,020	$	126,053	$	134,838
	Gross profit		60,186			69,599		68,518		71,155
	Net income (loss)		(2,485	)		5,476		3,247		4,259
	Net income (loss) per share—Basic		(0.18	)		0.41		0.24		0.32
	Net income (loss) per share—Diluted		(0.18	)		0.4		0.24		0.31
		Quarter Ended
	Fiscal 2013	9/30/13			6/30/13		3/31/13		12/31/12
	Net sales	$	128,250		$	141,886	$	134,859	$	135,264
	Gross profit		69,525			77,288		72,980		71,168
	Net income		5,633			8,591		5,877		3,842
	Net income per share—Basic		0.42			0.65		0.44		0.29
	Net income per share—Diluted		0.42			0.64		0.44		0.29

Segment_and_Enterprise_Wide_Di1

Segment and Enterprise Wide Disclosures (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Operations by Geographic Area	'
	Geographic Information.    Geographic revenue information is allocated based on the country in which the products or services are sold, and in the case of international franchise revenues, on the location of the customer. Information concerning the Company’s operations by geographic area is as follows (in thousands):
		Year Ended September 30,
		2014		2013		2012
	Net Sales to Unaffiliated Customers
	United States	$	489,026	$	512,585	$	514,779
	Foreign		27,933		27,674		26,697
		September 30,		September 30,
		2014		2013
	Long-Lived Assets, Net
	United States	$	78,033	$	53,992
	Foreign		3,100		1,799

Interest_Expense_Net_Tables

Interest Expense, Net (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
Banking And Thrift Interest [Abstract]	'
Interest Expense, Net	'
	Interest expense, net for the years ended September 30 is comprised of the following (in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Interest expense	$	418		$	557		$	1,256
	Interest income		(14	)		(25	)		(41	)
	Interest expense, net	$	404		$	532		$	1,215

Nature_of_Business_Additional_

Nature of Business - Additional Information (Details)	Sep. 30, 2014
	Stores
Number of Stores	568
Retail Locations	'
Number of Stores	1,894
Leased departments	'
Number of Stores	1,326

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 26, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Nov. 01, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier

Supplier Concentration Risk

Supplier Concentration Risk

Supplier Concentration Risk

Scenario Forecast

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Revolving Credit Facility

Furniture And Equipment

Furniture And Equipment

Building

Retail Locations

Retail Locations

Retail Locations

Minimum

Maximum

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash overdraft

$7,811

$4,730

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maturity of cash and cash equivalents

'Three months or less

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Service lives of assets

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'5 years

'10 years

'40 years

'

'

'

Impairment write-downs of property, plant and equipment

1,136

786

1,876

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,136

754

1,875

Legal costs incurred in connection with a lawsuit

1,859

1,093

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Write-downs of intangible assets

'

32

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Aggregate amortization expense of intangible assets

240

149

142

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Amortization of deferred financing costs

198

203

105

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss on extinguishment of debt

'

9

22

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred financing costs

'

988

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

988

'

'

'

'

'

'

Payments of Financing Costs

'

927

61

'

'

'

'

927

61

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Advertising expenses, including Internet advertising expenses

18,187

16,984

13,878

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Options and unvested restricted stock

201,000

196,000

321,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Company paid cash dividends

10,772

9,799

9,325

'

'

'

2,700

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Company paid cash dividends on per share

$0.79

$0.73

$0.70

'

'

'

$0.20

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest paid, including payments made on interest rate swap agreement

211

360

1,359

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Income tax paid, net of refunds

$8,460

$16,188

$7,432

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage of contribution

'

'

'

10.00%

10.00%

10.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

No single provider

0

0

0

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Amortization Expense of Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Estimated amortization expense of intangible assets	'
October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$106
2015	316
2016	309
2017	301
2018	$292

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Estimated Amortization Expense of Deferred Financing Costs (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	'
Estimated amortization expense of deferred financing	'
Amortization expense deferred financing costs	$65
2015	'
Estimated amortization expense of deferred financing	'
Amortization expense deferred financing costs	198
2016	'
Estimated amortization expense of deferred financing	'
Amortization expense deferred financing costs	198
2017	'
Estimated amortization expense of deferred financing	'
Amortization expense deferred financing costs	$148

Summary_of_Significant_Account6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Net Income Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net income	($2,485)	$5,476	$3,247	$4,259	$5,633	$8,591	$5,877	$3,842	$10,497	$23,943	$19,372
Net income per share—Basic	($0.18)	$0.41	$0.24	$0.32	$0.42	$0.65	$0.44	$0.29	$0.78	$1.80	$1.48
Net income per share—Diluted	($0.18)	$0.40	$0.24	$0.31	$0.42	$0.64	$0.44	$0.29	$0.77	$1.78	$1.46
Average number of shares outstanding—Basic	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,451	13,272	13,096
Average number of shares outstanding—Diluted	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,572	13,439	13,267
Employee Stock Option	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Incremental shares from the assumed exercise of outstanding stock options	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	73	108	122
Restricted Stock	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Incremental shares from the assumed lapse of restrictions on restricted stock awards	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	48	59	49

Trade_Receivables_Additional_I

Trade Receivables - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Receivables [Abstract]	'	'
Trade receivables, net	$131	$147

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Finished goods	$81,678	$79,087
Work-in-progress	2,140	2,709
Raw materials	4,593	4,750
Total	$88,411	$86,546

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N2

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net - Property, Plant and Equipment, Net (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	$191,707	$179,272
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	-114,908	-125,825
Property, plant and equipment, net, total	76,799	53,447
Land	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	'	1,400
Building and improvements	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	'	16,211
Furniture And Equipment	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	76,251	73,363
Leasehold improvements	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	93,288	88,298
Construction in Progress	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment gross	$22,168	'

Property_Plant_and_Equipment_N3

Property, Plant and Equipment, Net - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 05, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Aggregate depreciation and amortization expense of property, plant and equipment	'	$14,957	$12,275	$12,303
Impairment write-downs of property, plant and equipment	'	1,136	786	1,876
Sale of executive offices and distribution facility	12,522	'	'	'
Gain recognized under sale transaction	'	4,110	'	'
Retail Locations	'	'	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment write-downs of property, plant and equipment	'	1,136	754	1,875
Material Equipment and Leasehold Improvements	'	'	'	'
Property Plant And Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Construction in progress related to relocations	'	$20,893	'	'

Accrued_Expenses_and_Other_Cur2

Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities - Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'	'
Employee compensation and benefits	$10,936	$9,243
Accrued property, plant and equipment additions	5,858	403
Insurance, primarily self-insurance reserves	5,714	5,899
Gift certificates and store credits	3,813	4,182
Deferred rent	3,530	3,400
Sales and use taxes	2,914	2,876
Accounting and legal	1,322	1,106
Income taxes payable	81	166
Other	10,964	9,440
Total	47,840	39,417
Allowance for Sales Returns	'	'
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]	'	'
Product return reserve	$2,708	$2,702

Deferred_Rent_and_Other_Non_Cu2

Deferred Rent and Other Non Current Liabilities - Deferred Rent and Other Non Current Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred Rent and Other Non Current Liabilities	'	'
Deferred rent	$26,906	$21,132
Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities	-3,530	-3,400
Non-current deferred rent	23,376	17,732
Accrued income taxes	1,691	4,218
Other	163	171
Deferred rent and other non-current liabilities	$25,230	$22,121

Line_of_Credit_Additional_Info

Line of Credit - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			13 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
		Tranches
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior secured revolving credit facility	$61,000,000	'	'	'	$61,000,000	$55,000,000
Line of credit maturity date	'	1-Nov-17	'	'	'	'
Additional permitted borrowings under Tranche A	15,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Increments of additional permitted borrowings under Tranche A	2,500,000	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility extended maximum limit	70,000,000	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility Tranches	'	2	'	'	'	'
Revolving credit facility period	'5 years	'	'	'	'	'
Minimum excess availability on borrowing base	10.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Unused line fee under the Credit Facility	0.25%	'	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility Description of Variable Rate Basis	'	'The interest rate on outstanding borrowings is equal to, at the Company’s election, either 1) the lender’s base rate plus the applicable margin, or 2) a LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for base rate borrowings is 0.50% for Tranche A borrowings and 2.00% for Tranche A-1 borrowings. The applicable margin for LIBOR rate borrowings is 1.50% for Tranche A borrowings and 3.00% for Tranche A-1 borrowings. Tranche A-1 borrowings are deemed to be the first loans made and the last loans repaid.	'	'	'	'
Deferred financing costs	'	'	988,000	'	'	'
Payments of Financing Costs	'	'	927,000	61,000	'	'
Applicable margin for Base rate borrowings using LIBOR	'	'	'	'	1.75%	'
Outstanding borrowings under Credit Facility	'	0	0	'	'	'
Letters of credit	'	6,424,000	5,695,000	'	'	'
Line of credit availability	'	54,576,000	55,305,000	'	'	'
Line of credit, outstanding borrowings	'	24,000	205,000	'	'	'
Line of credit borrowings during period	'	1,400,000	6,200,000	'	'	'
Tranche A	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior secured revolving credit facility	55,000,000	'	'	'	55,000,000	'
Tranche A | Minimum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowings interest rate	'	1.66%	'	'	'	'
Tranche A | Maximum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowings interest rate	'	3.75%	'	'	'	'
Tranche A | Base Rate	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable margin rate	0.50%	'	'	'	'	'
Tranche A | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable margin rate	1.50%	'	'	'	'	'
Tranche A-1	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior secured revolving credit facility	$6,000,000	'	'	'	$6,000,000	'
Tranche A-1 | Minimum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowings interest rate	'	3.16%	'	'	'	'
Tranche A-1 | Maximum	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Borrowings interest rate	'	5.25%	'	'	'	'
Tranche A-1 | Base Rate	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable margin rate	2.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Tranche A-1 | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable margin rate	3.00%	'	'	'	'	'
Prior Credit Facility	'	'	'	'	'	'
Line Of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Applicable margin rate	'	'	'	'	0.75%	'

LongTerm_Debt_Additional_Infor

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012	Apr. 18, 2007	Apr. 03, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
			Senior Secured Term Loan B	Senior Secured Term Loan B	Industrial Revenue Bond	Industrial Revenue Bond
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Senior secured Term Loan proceeds	'	'	'	$90,000	'	'
Remaining Term Loan B balance prepaid	'	'	13,427	'	'	'
Outstanding borrowings under an Industrial Revenue Bond ("IRB")	'	'	'	'	'	1,830
Repayment of long-term debt	$15,257	$16,085	'	'	$1,830	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'	'
Cash equivalents held by the Company	$9,333	$20,425

Common_and_Preferred_Stock_Add

Common and Preferred Stock - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
				Series B junior participating preferred stock	Series B junior participating preferred stock
Class Of Stock [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Repurchase of the Company's outstanding common stock	$0	$10,000,000	'	'	'
Preferred stock, shares authorized	1,656,381	'	1,656,381	300,000	300,000
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	'	$0.01	$0.01	$0.01
Series B junior participating preferred stock, shares issued	0	'	0	'	'
Series B junior participating preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	'	0	0	0
Class of warrants rights preference share conversion ratio	'	'	'	0.10%	'
Series B Unit voting rights	'	'	'	'One share of common stock	'

Rights_Agreement_Additional_In

Rights Agreement - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
	Right
Rights Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]	'
Number of right for each common share	1
Number of Series B unit purchased	1
Beneficial Ownership Percentage To make right agreement inoperative for Acquiring Person	15.00%
Number of Days For commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer	'10 days
Mandatorily redeemable rights redemption price	0.01
Rights to receive Series B units or common stock of the acquiring company	'Two times
Rights Agreement	'
Rights Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]	'
Rights final expiration date	9-Oct-15
Series B Unit	'
Rights Agreement (Textual) [Abstract]	'
Right Exercise Price	$85

Equity_Award_Plans_Additional_

Equity Award Plans - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
	Executives
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Options outstanding	454,000	548,000	'
Restricted stock, shares vested to non-employee director	4,000	'	'
Number of stock options granted with exercise price less than fair market value on grant date	0	'	'
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$3,576	$2,080	$1,544
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	271	744	107
Actual tax benefit realized for tax deductions from stock option exercised	1,347	784	580
Exercise of stock options, shares	195,000	'	'
Net-share settled by company	68,739	39,934	51,041
Weighted average fair value of stock options	$8.21	$7.98	$6.17
Number of executive officers granted performance based RSU	4	'	'
Performance period	'3 years	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	4,675	'	'
Weighted-average period recognized compensation cost	'1 year 3 months 18 days	'	'
Repurchase of common stock, shares	76,386	34,125	30,849
Payments for tax obligations to the tax authorities on exercise or vesting date	2,178	725	597
2005 Plan	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Options to be issued	2,800,000	'	'
Common stock shares issued, restricted stock units	1,500,000	'	'
Common stock available for grant	1,071,115	'	'
Shares issued in respect of restricted stock	608,556	'	'
Exercise of stock options, shares	176,899	101,949	119,600
Exercise of stock options, net	$1,976	$890	$1,007
2005 Plan | Employee Stock Option	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based payment award, expiration period	'10 years	'	'
2005 Plan | Minimum | Employee Stock Option	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based payment award, vesting period	'4 years	'	'
2005 Plan | Minimum | Restricted Stock	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based payment award, expiration period	'1 year	'	'
2005 Plan | Maximum | Employee Stock Option	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based payment award, vesting period	'5 years	'	'
2005 Plan | Maximum | Restricted Stock	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Share-based payment award, expiration period	'5 years	'	'
1987 Plan	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Options outstanding	19,090	'	'
Stock option plan expiration date	9-Dec-07	'	'
Non-executive chairman	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restricted stock, shares vested to non-employee director	6,000	'	'
2012 Awards	'	'	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'	'	'
Cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	0	'	'

Equity_Award_Plans_Stock_Optio

Equity Award Plans - Stock Option Activity for All Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Stock option activity for all plans	'
Outstanding Stock Options, beginning balance	548
Outstanding Stock Options, granted	121
Outstanding Stock Options, exercised	-195
Outstanding Stock Options, forfeited	-19
Outstanding Stock Options, expired	-1
Outstanding Stock Options, ending balance	454
Outstanding Stock Options, exercisable	208
Weighted Average Exercise Price, outstanding stock options, beginning balance	$15.35
Weighted Average Exercise Price, outstanding stock options, granted	$27.13
Weighted Average Exercise Price, outstanding stock options, exercised	$11.46
Weighted Average Exercise Price, outstanding stock options, forfeited	$22.86
Weighted Average Stock Price, stock options outstanding, expired	$5.01
Weighted Average Exercise Price, stock options outstanding, ending balance	$19.87
Weighted Average Exercise Price, outstanding stock options, exercisable	$17.94
Weighted Average Remaining Life, stock options outstanding, ending balance	'7 years 2 months 12 days
Weighted Average Remaining Life, stock options outstanding, exercisable	'6 years 1 month 6 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, stock options outstanding, ending balance	$504
Aggregate Intrinsic Value, stock options outstanding, exercisable	$406

Equity_Award_Plans_WeightedAve

Equity Award Plans - Weighted-Average Assumptions for Option Grants (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Weighted-average assumptions for option grants	'	'	'
Expected dividend yield	3.20%	3.50%	4.50%
Expected price volatility	49.10%	59.60%	63.00%
Risk-free interest rate	1.40%	0.80%	1.00%
Expected life	'4 years 8 months 12 days	'5 years 6 months	'5 years 6 months

Equity_Award_Plans_Summarizes_

Equity Award Plans - Summarizes Information about Stock Options Outstanding (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Range one	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$3.52
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$7
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	33
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'1 year 4 months 24 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$5.82
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	33
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$5.82
Range two	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$7.01
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$12
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	45
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'5 years 3 months 18 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$11.89
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	25
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$11.89
Range three	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$12.01
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$19
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	68
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'7 years 2 months 12 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$16.28
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	36
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$17.59
Range four	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$19.01
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$20
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	122
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'8 years 8 months 12 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$19.81
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	29
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$19.89
Range five	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$20.01
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$23
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	108
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'6 years 6 months
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$21.79
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	67
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$21.95
Range six	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$23.01
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$31.38
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	78
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'9 years 2 months 12 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$30.81
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	18
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$30.45
Range seven	'
Summary of information about stock options outstanding	'
Range of Exercise Prices, lower range	$3.52
Range of Exercise Prices, upper range	$31.38
Number of Stock Options Outstanding	454
Stock Options Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Life	'7 years 2 months 12 days
Stock Option Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$19.87
Number of Stock Options Exercisable	208
Stock Option Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$17.94

Equity_Award_Plans_Restricted_

Equity Award Plans - Restricted Stock Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014
Restricted stock activity for the 2005 Plan	'
Outstanding Restricted Shares, Nonvested, beginning balance	226
Outstanding Restricted Shares, Granted	114
Outstanding Restricted Shares, Vested	-126
Outstanding Restricted Shares, Forfeited	-14
Outstanding Restricted Shares, Nonvested, ending balance	200
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Nonvested, beginning balance	$18.92
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Granted	$28.75
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Vested	$19.67
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Forfeited	$22.68
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value, Nonvested, ending balance	$23.79

Equity_Award_Plans_Summary_of_

Equity Award Plans - Summary of Cumulative Minimum and Maximum RSUs Award Activity (Details) (Executive Officer, Restricted Stock Units (RSUs), USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
2014 Awards | Performance Period Fiscal 2014 to 2016	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'
Minimum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	$124,110,000
Minimum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	15,113
Maximum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	149,728,000
Maximum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	45,337
2013 Awards | Performance Period Fiscal 2013 to 2015	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'
Minimum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	109,582,000
Minimum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	18,541
Maximum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	132,201,000
Maximum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	55,621
2012 Awards | Performance Period Fiscal 2012 to 2014	'
Deferred Compensation Arrangement With Individual Share Based Payments [Line Items]	'
Minimum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	120,000,000
Minimum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	19,531
Maximum RSU Cumulative Operating Income	$132,000,000
Maximum cumulative restricted stock units available for future declaration	58,590

Other_Charges_Net_Additional_I

Other Charges, Net - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 11, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Relocation And Withdrawn Proposed Business Combination And Other Professional Fees [Abstract]	'	'
Pretax income from gain realized on the sale of facilities	'	$2,072
Pretax charges incurred for business proposal	'	1,045
Pretax charges for separation benefits	4,256	4,256
Other costs incurred relating to CEO transition	3,338	'
Accelerated vesting, outstanding equity awards	$456	'

Other_Charges_Net_Schedule_of_

Other Charges, Net - Schedule of Charges Incurred In Facilities Relocations, Proposed Business Combination and Management and Organizational Changes (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Aug. 11, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Facilities Relocations	'	'	'	'
Accelerated depreciation and amortization expense	'	$1,127	'	'
Pre-opening rent expense on new corporate headquarters	'	798	'	'
Gain on sale of building	'	-4,110	'	'
Other	'	113	'	'
Total facilities relocations	'	-2,072	'	'
Proposed Business Combination	'	'	'	'
Legal and other professional fees	'	1,045	'	'
Management and Organizational Changes	'	'	'	'
CEO separation benefits	'	4,107	'	'
Other	'	149	'	'
Total management and organizational changes	4,256	4,256	'	'
Total other charges, net	'	$3,229	$0	$0

Income_Taxes_Income_Tax_Provis

Income Taxes - Income Tax Provision (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Summary of income tax provisions	'	'	'
Current provision	$6,581	$16,017	$13,874
Deferred benefit	-2,975	-1,791	-1,378
Deferred benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations	'	-1,216	'
Income tax provision	3,606	13,010	12,496
Federal provision	5,109	11,485	8,517
State (benefit) provision	-1,674	380	2,170
Foreign provision	$171	$1,145	$1,809

Income_Taxes_Reconciliations_o

Income Taxes - Reconciliations of the Statutory Federal Tax Rate to the Company's Effective Income Tax Rates (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliations of the statutory federal tax rate to the Company's effective income tax rates	'	'	'
Statutory federal tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
State tax rate, net of federal benefit	3.20%	2.70%	2.70%
Provision for uncertain income tax positions, net of federal benefit	2.10%	1.30%	2.40%
Settlements of uncertain income tax positions, net of federal effect	-13.00%	'	'
Benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, recognized based on change in tax regulations	'	-3.30%	'
Other	-1.70%	-0.50%	-0.90%
Effective income tax rate	25.60%	35.20%	39.20%

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Effe

Income Taxes - Deferred Tax Effects of Temporary Differences Giving Rise to the Company's Net Deferred Tax Assets (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Deferred tax assets:	'	'
Deferred rent	$10,138	$7,964
Employee benefit accruals	4,610	3,071
State net operating loss carryforwards	3,141	3,141
Inventory reserves	1,262	643
Stock-based compensation	1,134	1,029
Depreciation and amortization	107	2,245
Other accruals	2,458	3,203
Other	2,026	1,631
Deferred tax assets (excluding state net operating loss carryforwards)	24,876	22,927
Valuation allowance	-1,925	-1,925
Deferred tax asset, net of valuation allowance	22,951	21,002
Deferred tax liability:	'	'
Prepaid expenses	-801	-520
Net deferred tax assets	$22,150	$20,482

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Taxes ( Textual) [ Abstract]	'	'	'
Benefit of state net operating loss carryforwards, net of federal effect, from change in tax regulations	'	($1,216)	'
Increase deferred tax assets excluding state net operating loss carryforwards	819	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain income tax positions	508	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain income tax position accrued interest and penalties	-1,391	341	577
Recognized liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits that impact effective tax rate	1,197	'	'
Recoverable income taxes	2,542	648	'
Gross unrecognized tax benefits increase for uncertain tax positions	41	'	'
Approximate gross unrecognized tax benefit that would impact the effective tax rate	$23	'	'

Income_Taxes_Summary_of_Income

Income Taxes - Summary of Income Tax Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits for uncertain tax positions	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	$4,218	$4,063	$2,591
Additions for current year tax positions	192	476	1,377
Additions for prior year tax positions	231	331	266
Reductions of prior year tax positions	-2,700	-12	-20
Payments	-250	-640	-151
Balance at end of year	$1,691	$4,218	$4,063

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Total rent expense	$58,682	$61,253	$65,412
Contingent rentals based upon a percentage of sales	$1,735	$1,574	$1,428

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies - Future Annual Minimum Operating Lease Payments (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Future annual minimum operating lease payments	'
October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015	$15,108
2015	42,367
2016	34,379
2017	30,045
2018	24,626
2019 and thereafter	95,670
Total	$242,195

Executive_Officer_Employment_A1

Executive Officer Employment Agreements - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

In Thousands, unless otherwise specified

Sep. 30, 2014

Aug. 10, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 04, 2013

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 04, 2013

Dec. 01, 2012

Sep. 30, 2014

Sep. 30, 2013

Sep. 30, 2012

Dec. 04, 2013

Dec. 01, 2012

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Former Chief Executive Officer

Former Chief Executive Officer

Former Chief Executive Officer

Former Chief Executive Officer

President

President

President

President

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer

October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015

Employee Stock Option

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Performance Bases Restricted Stock Units

Stock Option

October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015

October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015

October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Annual base salary

'

$825

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$525

'

'

$535

'

'

'

$405

$385

'

'

'

$390

$360

Base salary earned

117

'

'

'

'

'

681

750

750

'

533

525

525

'

402

383

375

'

'

385

353

320

'

'

Annual equity grant with a grant date fair value, percentage

100.00%

'

133.00%

50.00%

25.00%

25.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Salary continuation and severance payments terms

'Mr. Romano is eligible for an annual cash bonus based on performance and an annual equity grant with a grant date fair value equal to 100% of Mr. Romano’s base salary. For the Company’s fiscal year end change transition period October 1, 2014 to January 31, 2015 through its 2015 fiscal year ending January 30, 2016, the equity grant will have a grant date fair value equal to 133% of Mr. Romano’s base salary and will be a mixture of 50% stock options, 25% time-vested restricted stock or restricted stock units, and 25% performance-based restricted stock units. The agreement continues in effect until terminated by either the Company or the executive in accordance with the termination provisions of the agreement

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Separation Agreement Payment

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$3,338

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Separation Agreement payable Date

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'2015-02

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Postretirement_Obligations_Add

Postretirement Obligations - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			42 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 16, 2010	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
		SERP Agreements	SERP Agreements	SERP Agreements	SERP Agreements	SERP Agreements	SERP Agreements
					Mr. Matthias	Mr. Matthias	Mr. Matthias
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Annual retainer paid under Agreement	$200	'	'	'	'	'	'
SERP Agreement benefits paid to former CEO	'	$150	$600	$3,960	$4,166	$150	$600

Postretirement_Obligations_Cha

Postretirement Obligations - Changes in the benefit obligation under Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreements (Details) (SERP Agreements, USD $)	12 Months Ended		42 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
SERP Agreements	'	'	'
Changes in the benefit obligation under Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement	'	'	'
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$150	$732	'
Interest cost	'	18	'
Benefit payments	-150	-600	-3,960
Benefit obligation at end of year	'	150	150
Less: current portion included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities	'	-150	-150
Non-current benefit obligation at end of year	$0	$0	$0

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Additio

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Contribution made by employees	20.00%	'	'
Contributions made by company	$75	$121	$39
Cumulative plan forfeitures applied against company matching contribution	$63	$12	$100
Discretionary contributions to the plan	'6 years	'	'

Quarterly_Financial_Informatio2

Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Quarterly financial results	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$122,048	$134,020	$126,053	$134,838	$128,250	$141,886	$134,859	$135,264	$516,959	$540,259	$541,476
Gross profit	60,186	69,599	68,518	71,155	69,525	77,288	72,980	71,168	269,458	290,961	290,711
Net income (loss)	($2,485)	$5,476	$3,247	$4,259	$5,633	$8,591	$5,877	$3,842	$10,497	$23,943	$19,372
Net income (loss) per share—Basic	($0.18)	$0.41	$0.24	$0.32	$0.42	$0.65	$0.44	$0.29	$0.78	$1.80	$1.48
Net income (loss) per share—Diluted	($0.18)	$0.40	$0.24	$0.31	$0.42	$0.64	$0.44	$0.29	$0.77	$1.78	$1.46

Segment_and_Enterprise_Wide_Di2

Segment and Enterprise Wide Disclosures - Additional Information (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014
	Customer
	Segment
Entity Wide Revenue Major Customer [Line Items]	'
Number of operating segment	1
Number of customer who represented more than 10% of net sales	0
Customer Concentration Risk	'
Entity Wide Revenue Major Customer [Line Items]	'
Percentage of contribution	10.00%

Segment_and_Enterprise_Wide_Di3

Segment and Enterprise Wide Disclosures - Operations by Geographic Area (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	$122,048	$134,020	$126,053	$134,838	$128,250	$141,886	$134,859	$135,264	$516,959	$540,259	$541,476
United States	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	489,026	512,585	514,779
Long-Lived Assets, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	78,033	'	'	'	53,992	'	'	'	78,033	53,992	'
Foreign	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net Sales to Unaffiliated Customers	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net sales	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	27,933	27,674	26,697
Long-Lived Assets, Net	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Long-Lived Assets	$3,100	'	'	'	$1,799	'	'	'	$3,100	$1,799	'

Interest_Expense_Net_Details

Interest Expense, Net (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Interest expense, net	'	'	'
Interest expense	$418	$557	$1,256
Interest income	-14	-25	-41
Interest expense, net	$404	$532	$1,215

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - (Details) (Product return reserve, USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Product return reserve	'	'	'
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Balance at beginning of period	$2,702	$2,225	$2,083
Additions charged to costs and expenses	6	477	142
Deductions and reclassifications	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	$2,708	$2,702	$2,225

Valuation_and_Qualifying_Accou1

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - (Parenthetical) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Valuation And Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'	'	'
Cost value of estimated product returns	$1,173	$1,160	$919