Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2014		Nov. 02, 2013		Aug. 03, 2013		May 04, 2013		Feb. 02, 2013		Oct. 27, 2012		Jul. 28, 2012		Apr. 28, 2012		Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013	Jan. 28, 2012
Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 599,962		$ 702,788		$ 621,706		$ 588,656		$ 618,735	[1]	$ 695,985	[1]	$ 564,897	[1]	$ 598,179	[1]	$ 2,513,113	$ 2,477,796	$ 2,434,766
Cost of goods sold																	1,498,825	1,489,221	1,470,270
Gross profit	241,407		278,240		254,626		240,016		247,332	[1]	279,335	[1]	227,654	[1]	234,254	[1]	1,014,288	988,575	964,496
Selling and administrative expenses																	909,749	891,666	910,293
Restructuring and other special charges, net																	1,262	22,431	23,671
Impairment of assets held for sale																	4,660
Operating earnings																	98,617	74,478	30,532
Interest expense																	(21,254)	(22,973)	(25,428)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																			(1,003)
Interest income																	377	322	569
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations																	77,740	51,827	4,670
Income tax (provision) benefit																	(23,758)	(16,656)	1,421
Net earnings from continuing operations																	53,982	35,171	6,091
Discontinued operations:
(Loss) earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax of $5,922, $3,066, $3,059, respectively																	(4,574)	(4,437)	4,334
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax of $0, $2,247, and $6,670, respectively																	(11,512)	(3,530)	13,965
Net (loss) earnings from discontinued operations																	(16,086)	(7,967)	18,299
Net earnings	6,161		27,284		15,283		(10,832)		4,003		24,287		(2,714)		1,628		37,896	27,204	24,390
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(177)	(287)	(199)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 6,164		$ 27,314		$ 15,357		$ (10,762)		$ 4,039		$ 24,292		$ (2,535)		$ 1,695		$ 38,073	$ 27,491	$ 24,589
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations																	$ 1.25	$ 0.83	$ 0.15
From discontinued operations																	$ (0.37)	$ (0.19)	$ 0.42
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.14	[2]	$ 0.63	[2]	$ 0.36	[2]	$ (0.26)	[2]	$ 0.09	[2]	$ 0.57	[2]	$ (0.06)	[2]	$ 0.04	[2]	$ 0.88	$ 0.64	$ 0.57
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations																	$ 1.25	$ 0.83	$ 0.14
From discontinued operations																	$ (0.37)	$ (0.19)	$ 0.42
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.14	[2]	$ 0.63	[2]	$ 0.35	[2]	$ (0.26)	[2]	$ 0.09	[2]	$ 0.56	[2]	$ (0.06)	[2]	$ 0.04	[2]	$ 0.88	$ 0.64	$ 0.56

[1] Adjusted from amounts previously reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the financial results related to discontinued operations. Refer to Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

[2] (1)EPS for the quarters may not sum to the annual amount as each period is computed on a discrete period basis.