Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 30, 2010
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 713,788	$ 716,093	$ 1,953,933	$ 1,899,567
Cost of goods sold	437,290	433,874	1,195,866	1,131,318
Gross profit	276,498	282,219	758,067	768,249
Selling and administrative expenses	239,422	247,089	707,476	696,052
Restructuring and other special charges, net	4,715	1,852	7,148	5,460
Operating earnings	32,361	33,278	43,443	66,737
Interest expense	(6,685)	(4,916)	(19,903)	(14,238)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(1,003)
Interest income	98	46	248	113
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	25,774	28,408	22,785	52,612
Income tax provision	(8,180)	(9,918)	(7,294)	(18,799)
Net earnings from continuing operations	17,594	18,490	15,491	33,813
Discontinued operations:
Earnings from operations of subsidiary, net of tax of $595 and $1,285, respectively	725		1,701
Gain on sale of subsidiary, net of tax of $6,196	15,374		15,374
Net earnings from discontinued operations	16,099		17,075
Net earnings	33,693	18,490	32,566	33,813
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(39)	(83)	(245)	(67)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 33,732	$ 18,573	$ 32,811	$ 33,880
Basic earnings per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.42	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.78
From discontinued operations	$ 0.38		$ 0.40
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.80	$ 0.42	$ 0.76	$ 0.78
Diluted earnings per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.41	$ 0.42	$ 0.36	$ 0.77
From discontinued operations	$ 0.38		$ 0.39
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.79	$ 0.42	$ 0.75	$ 0.77
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21