Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Other Additional Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Shares	Class A Common Shares	Class B Common Shares	Treasury Shares
Balance at Feb. 02, 2013	$ 858,579	$ (21,680)	$ (8,758)	$ 872,026	$ 16,991	$ 0
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 02, 2013							72,564	17,460	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	151,302				151,302
DSW stock-based compensation expense, before related tax effects	8,191			8,191
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes	4,776			4,776
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							665
Stock units granted	1,151			1,151
Stock units granted (in shares)							34
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes	(1,682)			(1,682)
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							81
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(1,600)					(1,600)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares							(38)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired									38
Excess tax benefits related to stock exercises	6,236			6,236
Common Control Asset Purchase	(3,313)	(3,313)
Exchange of Class B Common Shares for Class A Common Shares	0
Exchange of Class B Common Shares for Class A Common Shares (in shares)							2,600
Exchange of Class B for Class A (in shares)								(2,600)
Exchange of Class A Common Shares for Class B Common Shares							(606)	606
Class A Common Share Adjustment to Reflect Stock Split Impact on Voting Control (in shares)							7,733	(7,733)
Dividends paid	(33,854)				(33,854)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	0
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	(177)		(177)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax	8,935		8,935
Unrealized net loss on available-for-sale securities (net of taxes of $15, $0 and $0, respectively)	0
Balance at Feb. 01, 2014	998,544	(24,993)	0	890,698	134,439	(1,600)
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 01, 2014							83,033	7,733	38
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	153,299				153,299
DSW stock-based compensation expense, before related tax effects	9,248			9,248
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes	5,120			5,120
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							505
Stock units granted	1,247			1,247
Stock units granted (in shares)							52
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes	(1,649)			(1,649)
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							74
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(85,338)					(85,338)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares							(2,998)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired									2,998
Excess tax benefits related to stock exercises	4,015			4,015
Dividends paid	(66,912)				(66,912)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(6,454)		(6,454)
Unrealized net loss on available-for-sale securities (net of taxes of $15, $0 and $0, respectively)	0
Balance at Jan. 31, 2015	1,011,120	(24,993)	(6,454)	908,679	220,826	$ (86,938)
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 31, 2015						3,036	80,666	7,733	3,036
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	136,034				136,034
DSW stock-based compensation expense, before related tax effects	12,464			12,464
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes	7,504			7,504
Exercise of DSW stock options, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							540
Stock units granted	1,037			1,037
Stock units granted (in shares)							40
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes	(2,396)			(2,396)
Vesting of restricted stock units, net of settlement of taxes (in shares)							114
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	$ (179,593)					$ (179,593)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(7,200)						(7,175)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired									7,175
Excess tax benefits related to stock exercises	$ 2,723			2,723
Dividends paid	(69,720)				(69,720)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(14,076)		(14,076)
Unrealized net loss on available-for-sale securities (net of taxes of $15, $0 and $0, respectively)	(173)		(173)
Balance at Jan. 30, 2016	$ 904,924	$ (24,993)	$ (20,703)	$ 930,011	$ 287,140	$ (266,531)
Balance (in shares) at Jan. 30, 2016							74,185	7,733	10,211