Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Oct. 27, 2012	Jan. 28, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Jan. 29, 2011	Jan. 30, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 40,884	$ 47,682	$ 41,951	$ 126,548	$ 126,548
Receivables	138,562	154,022	155,754
Inventories	539,359	561,797	580,154
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,680	51,637	32,948
Total current assets	753,485	815,138	810,807
Other assets	135,194	140,277	137,590
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	134,377	140,590	142,544
Property and equipment, net	141,048	131,471	136,817
Total assets	1,164,104	1,227,476	1,227,758
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	110,000	201,000	222,000
Trade accounts payable	183,422	190,611	177,521
Other accrued expenses	150,056	132,969	138,074
Total current liabilities	443,478	524,580	537,595
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	198,773	198,633	198,586
Other liabilities	89,916	90,547	71,984
Total other liabilities	288,689	289,180	270,570
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	431,138	412,669	418,600
Noncontrolling interests	799	1,047	993
Total equity	431,937	413,716	419,593
Total liabilities and equity	1,164,104	1,227,476	1,227,758
Parent [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		(4,386)	(1,209)
Receivables	101,466	78,129	107,959
Inventories	77,237	129,776	107,532
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	38,521	35,625	18,228
Total current assets	217,224	239,144	232,510
Other assets	115,445	115,515	112,099
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	38,337	47,765	49,143
Property and equipment, net	24,578	23,621	24,267
Investment in subsidiaries	862,308	813,602	646,443
Total assets	1,257,892	1,239,647	1,064,462
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	110,000	201,000	222,000
Trade accounts payable	35,565	49,238	36,591
Other accrued expenses	60,812	60,079	50,396
Total current liabilities	206,377	310,317	308,987
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	198,773	198,633	198,586
Other liabilities	33,213	29,702	16,668
Intercompany payable (receivable)	388,391	288,326	121,621
Total other liabilities	620,377	516,661	336,875
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	431,138	412,669	418,600
Total equity	431,138	412,669	418,600
Total liabilities and equity	1,257,892	1,239,647	1,064,462
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	29,113	34,332	26,552		27,095
Receivables	18,775	24,082	21,391
Inventories	444,534	418,264	462,178
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,562)	14,685	11,270
Total current assets	487,860	491,363	521,391
Other assets	18,939	23,844	24,592
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	20,264	16,160	16,440
Property and equipment, net	107,335	97,887	102,725
Investment in subsidiaries	234,014	68,057	66,317
Total assets	868,412	697,311	731,465
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	125,296	92,431	116,548
Other accrued expenses	78,164	65,676	75,414
Total current liabilities	203,460	158,107	191,962
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	42,601	46,717	41,168
Intercompany payable (receivable)	(239,957)	(321,115)	(148,108)
Total other liabilities	(197,356)	(274,398)	(106,940)
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	862,308	813,602	646,443
Total equity	862,308	813,602	646,443
Total liabilities and equity	868,412	697,311	731,465
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	11,771	17,736	16,608		99,453
Receivables	18,321	51,811	26,404
Inventories	17,588	13,757	10,444
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	721	1,327	3,450
Total current assets	48,401	84,631	56,906
Other assets	810	918	899
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	75,776	76,665	76,961
Property and equipment, net	9,135	9,963	9,825
Total assets	134,122	172,177	144,591
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	22,561	48,942	24,382
Other accrued expenses	11,080	7,214	12,264
Total current liabilities	33,641	56,156	36,646
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	14,102	14,128	14,148
Intercompany payable (receivable)	(148,434)	32,789	26,487
Total other liabilities	(134,332)	46,917	40,635
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	234,014	68,057	66,317
Noncontrolling interests	799	1,047	993
Total equity	234,813	69,104	67,310
Total liabilities and equity	134,122	172,177	144,591
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,096,322)	(881,659)	(712,760)
Total assets	(1,096,322)	(881,659)	(712,760)
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,096,322)	(881,659)	(712,760)
Total equity	(1,096,322)	(881,659)	(712,760)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (1,096,322)	$ (881,659)	$ (712,760)