Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 02, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012	Nov. 02, 2013	Oct. 27, 2012
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 702,788	$ 695,985	$ 1,913,150	$ 1,859,061
Cost of goods sold	424,548	416,650	1,140,268	1,117,818
Gross profit	278,240	279,335	772,882	741,243
Selling and administrative expenses	233,572	236,196	678,522	659,377
Restructuring and other special charges, net		2,146	1,262	19,660
Impairment of assets held for sale			4,660
Operating earnings	44,668	40,993	88,438	62,206
Interest expense	(5,254)	(5,398)	(16,167)	(17,079)
Interest income	132	76	282	236
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	39,546	35,671	72,553	45,363
Income tax provision	(12,495)	(11,418)	(24,522)	(15,275)
Net earnings from continuing operations	27,051	24,253	48,031	30,088
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (expensea) benefit of ($114), $19, $6,057 and $4,565, respectively	233	34	(4,784)	(6,887)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit			(11,512)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	233	34	(16,296)	(6,887)
Net earnings	27,284	24,287	31,735	23,201
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(30)	(5)	(174)	(251)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 27,314	$ 24,292	$ 31,909	$ 23,452
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.63	$ 0.57	$ 1.12	$ 0.71
From discontinued operations			$ (0.38)	$ (0.16)
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.63	$ 0.57	$ 0.74	$ 0.55
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.62	$ 0.56	$ 1.11	$ 0.71
From discontinued operations	$ 0.01		$ (0.38)	$ (0.16)
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.63	$ 0.56	$ 0.73	$ 0.55
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21