Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 621,706	$ 564,897	$ 1,210,362	$ 1,163,076
Cost of goods sold	367,080	337,243	715,720	701,168
Gross profit	254,626	227,654	494,642	461,908
Selling and administrative expenses	231,071	211,706	444,950	423,181
Restructuring and other special charges, net	743	7,326	1,262	17,514
Impairment of assets held for sale			4,660
Operating earnings	22,812	8,622	43,770	21,213
Interest expense	(5,192)	(5,645)	(10,913)	(11,681)
Interest income	82	77	150	160
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	17,702	3,054	33,007	9,692
Income tax provision	(4,081)	(1,241)	(12,027)	(3,857)
Net earnings from continuing operations	13,621	1,813	20,980	5,835
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $2,588, $2,923, $6,171 and $4,546, respectively	620	(4,527)	(5,017)	(6,921)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit	1,042		(11,512)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	1,662	(4,527)	(16,529)	(6,921)
Net earnings (loss)	15,283	(2,714)	4,451	(1,086)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(74)	(179)	(144)	(246)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 15,357	$ (2,535)	$ 4,595	$ (840)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.32	$ 0.05	$ 0.51	$ 0.15
From discontinued operations	$ 0.04	$ (0.11)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.17)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.36	$ (0.06)	$ 0.11	$ (0.02)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.31	$ 0.05	$ 0.50	$ 0.15
From discontinued operations	$ 0.04	$ (0.11)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.17)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.35	$ (0.06)	$ 0.10	$ (0.02)
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.14	$ 0.14