Business Segments (Assets and Goodwill by Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 10, 2016	Jan. 02, 2016	Sep. 12, 2015	Jan. 03, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 2,759.0	$ 2,434.4	$ 2,577.2
Goodwill	429.6	429.1	432.1	$ 438.8
Wolverine Outdoor and Lifestyle Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	481.4	444.2	522.3
Goodwill	128.2	130.4	131.3
Wolverine Boston Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	1,309.6	1,324.2	1,330.5
Goodwill	258.9	256.2	258.3
Wolverine Heritage Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	162.0	169.9	186.3
Goodwill	16.5	16.5	16.5
Wolverine Multi-Brand Group [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	179.9	204.3	217.1
Goodwill	26.0	26.0	26.0
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	31.4	23.9	22.6
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 594.7	$ 267.9	$ 298.4