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
	May 04, 2013	Apr. 28, 2012
Net sales	$ 588,656	$ 598,179
Cost of goods sold	348,640	363,925
Gross profit	240,016	234,254
Selling and administrative expenses	213,879	211,475
Restructuring and other special charges, net	519	10,188
Impairment of assets held for sale	4,660
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries
Operating earnings	20,958	12,591
Interest expense	(5,721)	(6,036)
Interest income	68	83
Intercompany interest income (expense)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	15,305	6,638
Income tax benefit (provision)	(7,946)	(2,616)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	7,359	4,022
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,637)	(2,394)
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations	(12,554)
Net loss from discontinued operations	(18,191)	(2,394)
Net (loss) earnings	(10,832)	1,628
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(70)	(67)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(10,762)	1,695
Comprehensive income (loss)	(11,491)	2,224
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28)	(65)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(11,463)	2,289
Parent [Member]
Net sales	158,781	181,844
Cost of goods sold	116,330	138,064
Gross profit	42,451	43,780
Selling and administrative expenses	50,000	39,210
Restructuring and other special charges, net	519	3,662
Impairment of assets held for sale
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(2,975)	(1,269)
Operating earnings	(5,093)	2,177
Interest expense	(5,630)	(5,940)
Interest income	3
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,454	3,409
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	(7,266)	(354)
Income tax benefit (provision)	3,382	2,506
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(3,884)	2,152
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6,948)	(457)
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations
Net loss from discontinued operations	(6,948)	(457)
Net (loss) earnings	(10,832)	1,695
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(10,832)	1,695
Comprehensive income (loss)	(11,491)	1,663
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(11,491)	1,663
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	418,538	418,409
Cost of goods sold	229,956	233,976
Gross profit	188,582	184,433
Selling and administrative expenses	159,852	162,820
Restructuring and other special charges, net		6,526
Impairment of assets held for sale
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	13,174	3,759
Operating earnings	15,556	11,328
Interest expense	(91)	(96)
Interest income	64	61
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(3,579)	(3,515)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	11,950	7,778
Income tax benefit (provision)	(10,566)	(4,805)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	1,384	2,973
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,591	(1,704)
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations
Net loss from discontinued operations	1,591	(1,704)
Net (loss) earnings	2,975	1,269
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	2,975	1,269
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,411	1,898
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	2,411	1,898
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	42,604	43,822
Cost of goods sold	33,621	37,781
Gross profit	8,983	6,041
Selling and administrative expenses	4,027	9,445
Restructuring and other special charges, net
Impairment of assets held for sale	4,660
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	225
Operating earnings	71	(3,404)
Interest expense
Interest income	1	22
Intercompany interest income (expense)	125	106
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	197	(3,276)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(762)	(317)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(565)	(3,593)
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax	(280)	(233)
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations	(12,554)
Net loss from discontinued operations	(12,834)	(233)
Net (loss) earnings	(13,399)	(3,826)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(70)	(67)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(13,329)	(3,759)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(13,392)	(3,827)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28)	(65)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(13,364)	(3,762)
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(31,267)	(45,896)
Cost of goods sold	(31,267)	(45,896)
Gross profit
Selling and administrative expenses
Restructuring and other special charges, net
Impairment of assets held for sale
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(10,424)	(2,490)
Operating earnings	10,424	2,490
Interest expense
Interest income
Intercompany interest income (expense)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	10,424	2,490
Income tax benefit (provision)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	10,424	2,490
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax
Impairment charge on net assets of discontinued operations
Net loss from discontinued operations
Net (loss) earnings	10,424	2,490
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net (loss) earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	10,424	2,490
Comprehensive income (loss)	10,981	2,490
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 10,981	$ 2,490