Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2014	May 04, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 591,162	$ 588,656
Cost of goods sold	348,821	348,640
Gross profit	242,341	240,016
Selling and administrative expenses	213,615	213,879
Restructuring and other special charges, net		519
Impairment of assets held for sale		4,660
Operating earnings	28,726	20,958
Interest expense	(5,306)	(5,721)
Interest income	76	68
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	23,496	15,305
Income tax provision	(8,020)	(7,946)
Net earnings from continuing operations	15,476	7,359
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0 and $3,583		(5,637)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax		(12,554)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(18,191)
Net earnings (loss)	15,476	(10,832)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	47	(70)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 15,429	$ (10,762)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.35	$ 0.18
From discontinued operations		$ (0.44)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.35	$ (0.26)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.35	$ 0.18
From discontinued operations		$ (0.44)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.35	$ (0.26)
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07