Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 732,169	$ 713,788	$ 1,957,889	$ 1,953,933
Cost of goods sold	446,387	437,290	1,199,229	1,195,866
Gross profit	285,782	276,498	758,660	758,067
Selling and administrative expenses	242,317	239,422	680,492	707,476
Restructuring and other special charges, net	2,342	4,715	21,288	7,148
Impairment of intangible assets			5,777
Operating earnings (loss)	41,123	32,361	51,103	43,443
Interest expense	(5,513)	(6,685)	(17,428)	(19,903)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(1,003)
Interest income	76	98	236	248
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations	35,686	25,774	33,911	22,785
Income tax provision	(11,399)	(8,180)	(10,710)	(7,294)
Net earnings from continuing operations	24,287	17,594	23,201	15,491
Discontinued operations:
Earnings from operations of subsidiary, net of tax of $0, $595, $0 and $1,285, respectively		725		1,701
Gain on sale of subsidiary, net of tax of $0, $6,196, $0, $6,196, respectively		15,374		15,374
Net earnings from discontinued operations		16,099		17,075
Net earnings (loss)	24,287	33,693	23,201	32,566
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	(39)	(251)	(245)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 24,292	$ 33,732	$ 23,452	$ 32,811
Basic earnings per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.57	$ 0.42	$ 0.55	$ 0.36
From discontinued operations		$ 0.38		$ 0.40
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.57	$ 0.80	$ 0.55	$ 0.76
Diluted earnings per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.56	$ 0.41	$ 0.55	$ 0.36
From discontinued operations		$ 0.38		$ 0.39
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.56	$ 0.79	$ 0.55	$ 0.75
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21