Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011	Oct. 27, 2012	Oct. 29, 2011
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 benefit (provision)	(11,399)	(8,180)	(10,710)	(7,294)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations	24,287	17,594	23,201	15,491
Earnings from operations of subsidiary, net of tax		725		1,701
Gain on sale of subsidiary, net of tax		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
Comprehensive income (loss)	25,384	32,277	23,420	32,839
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(30)	(248)	(214)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	25,382	32,307	23,668	33,053
Parent [Member]
Net sales	209,513	206,628	566,681	538,093
Cost of goods sold	158,438	157,993	436,652	411,314
Gross profit	51,075	48,635	130,029	126,779
Selling and administrative expenses	56,589	40,435	144,055	128,312
Restructuring and other special charges, net	1,686	4,715	8,098	7,148
Impairment of intangible assets			5,777
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(31,317)	(32,516)	(46,701)	(44,245)
Operating earnings (loss)	24,117	36,001	18,800	35,564
Interest expense	(5,513)	(6,681)	(17,428)	(19,886)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt				(1,003)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,040	3,753	9,568	12,007
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations	21,644	33,073	10,940	26,682
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,642	659	12,506	6,129
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		33,732		32,811
Net earnings (loss)	24,286	33,732	23,446	32,811
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	24,286	33,732	23,446	32,811
Comprehensive income (loss)	24,842	33,732	23,422	32,773
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	24,842	33,732	23,422	32,773
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	532,390	517,443	1,408,768	1,400,822
Cost of goods sold	307,509	298,120	805,016	795,161
Gross profit	224,881	219,323	603,752	605,661
Selling and administrative expenses	187,826	167,977	526,818	532,958
Restructuring and other special charges, net	656		13,190
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(10,031)	22,895	(12,872)	19,907
Operating earnings (loss)	46,430	28,451	76,616	52,796
Interest expense		(8)		(20)
Interest income	61	89	185	187
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(3,147)	(3,859)	(9,888)	(12,380)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations	43,344	24,673	66,913	40,583
Income tax benefit (provision)	(12,021)	(8,256)	(20,206)	(13,413)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		16,417		27,170
Earnings from operations of subsidiary, net of tax		725		1,701
Gain on sale of subsidiary, net of tax		15,374		15,374
Net earnings from discontinued operations		16,099		17,075
Net earnings (loss)	31,323	32,516	46,707	44,245
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	31,323	32,516	46,707	44,245
Comprehensive income (loss)	31,872	30,431	46,954	46,079
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	31,872	30,431	46,954	46,079
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	42,437	42,107	133,406	153,353
Cost of goods sold	32,611	33,567	108,527	127,726
Gross profit	9,826	8,540	24,879	25,627
Selling and administrative expenses	(2,098)	31,010	9,619	46,206
Operating earnings (loss)	11,924	(22,470)	15,260	(20,579)
Interest expense		4		3
Interest income	15	9	51	61
Intercompany interest income (expense)	107	106	320	373
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations	12,046	(22,351)	15,631	(20,142)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(2,020)	(583)	(3,010)	(10)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		(22,934)		(20,152)
Net earnings (loss)	10,026	(22,934)	12,621	(20,152)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5)	(39)	(251)	(245)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	10,031	(22,895)	12,872	(19,907)
Comprehensive income (loss)	10,018	(22,265)	12,617	(21,675)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(30)	(248)	(214)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	10,016	(22,235)	12,865	(21,461)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(52,171)	(52,390)	(150,966)	(138,335)
Cost of goods sold	(52,171)	(52,390)	(150,966)	(138,335)
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	41,348	9,621	59,573	24,338
Operating earnings (loss)	(41,348)	(9,621)	(59,573)	(24,338)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations	(41,348)	(9,621)	(59,573)	(24,338)
Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations		(9,621)		(24,338)
Net earnings (loss)	(41,348)	(9,621)	(59,573)	(24,338)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(41,348)	(9,621)	(59,573)	(24,338)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(41,348)	(9,621)	(59,573)	(24,338)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (41,348)	$ (9,621)	$ (59,573)	$ (24,338)