Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 03, 2014	Feb. 01, 2014	May 04, 2013	Feb. 02, 2013
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 36,668	$ 82,546	$ 44,669	$ 68,223
Receivables, net	105,746	129,217	96,734
Inventories, net	512,811	547,531	485,923
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	37,913	33,136	43,167
Current assets – held for sale			12,496
Current assets – discontinued operations		119	39,159
Total current assets	693,138	792,549	722,148
Other assets	136,256	139,621	115,591
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	137,750	73,673	80,996
Noncurrent assets – discontinued operations			38,673
Property and equipment, net	141,818	143,560	137,299
Total assets	1,108,962	1,149,403	1,094,707
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement		7,000	66,000
Trade accounts payable	195,703	226,602	188,948
Other accrued expenses	141,718	152,545	118,632
Current liabilities – held for sale			5,306
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		708	16,183
Total current liabilities	337,421	386,855	395,069
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,057	199,010	198,870
Other liabilities	79,713	86,176	81,066
Noncurrent liabilities – discontinued operations			6,768
Total other liabilities	278,770	285,186	286,704
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	492,073	476,699	412,190
Noncontrolling interests	698	663	744
Total equity	492,771	477,362	412,934
Total liabilities and equity	1,108,962	1,149,403	1,094,707
Parent [Member]
Assets
Receivables, net	83,713	84,428	67,017
Inventories, net	93,159	119,131	79,768
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	34,476	38,069	41,977
Current assets – discontinued operations		119	2,542
Intercompany receivable - current	981	602	786
Total current assets	212,329	242,349	192,090
Other assets	120,941	123,066	98,431
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	119,666	55,225	36,203
Property and equipment, net	27,303	27,201	26,484
Investment in subsidiaries	879,965	865,700	759,545
Intercompany receivable - noncurrent	450,481	457,507	343,110
Total assets	1,810,685	1,771,048	1,455,863
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement		7,000	66,000
Trade accounts payable	48,509	72,349	31,065
Other accrued expenses	69,665	81,902	55,497
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		708	11,343
Intercompany payable – current	2,367	4,689	5,231
Total current liabilities	120,541	166,648	169,136
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,057	199,010	198,870
Other liabilities	33,499	38,657	26,685
Noncurrent liabilities – discontinued operations			(1,105)
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	965,515	890,034	650,087
Total other liabilities	1,198,071	1,127,701	874,537
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	492,073	476,699	412,190
Total equity	492,073	476,699	412,190
Total liabilities and equity	1,810,685	1,771,048	1,455,863
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	25,528	30,002	29,202	32,060
Receivables, net	1,412	2,349	6,079
Inventories, net	414,424	421,101	400,139
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	507	16,024	1,251
Current assets – discontinued operations			36,605
Intercompany receivable - current	368	191	246
Total current assets	442,239	469,667	473,522
Other assets	14,678	15,864	16,562
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	18,084	18,448	19,538
Noncurrent assets – discontinued operations			1,321
Property and equipment, net	112,630	114,359	108,416
Investment in subsidiaries	169,843	165,970	(28,096)
Intercompany receivable - noncurrent	500,580	482,180	546,265
Total assets	1,258,054	1,266,488	1,137,528
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	123,656	116,604	129,630
Other accrued expenses	64,082	87,045	59,651
Current liabilities – discontinued operations			4,796
Intercompany payable – current	59	766	37
Total current liabilities	187,797	204,415	194,114
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	44,745	46,055	50,003
Noncurrent liabilities – discontinued operations			(2,535)
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	145,547	150,318	136,401
Total other liabilities	190,292	196,373	183,869
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	879,965	865,700	759,545
Total equity	879,965	865,700	759,545
Total liabilities and equity	1,258,054	1,266,488	1,137,528
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	11,140	52,544	15,467	36,163
Receivables, net	20,621	42,440	23,638
Inventories, net	5,228	7,299	6,016
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,930	3,984	(61)
Current assets – held for sale			12,496
Current assets – discontinued operations			12
Intercompany receivable - current	10,655	8,860	19,236
Total current assets	50,574	115,127	76,804
Other assets	637	691	598
Goodwill and intangible assets, net			25,255
Noncurrent assets – discontinued operations			37,352
Property and equipment, net	1,885	2,000	2,399
Investment in subsidiaries			(3,597)
Intercompany receivable - noncurrent	242,150	230,572	180,056
Total assets	295,246	348,390	318,867
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	23,538	37,649	28,253
Other accrued expenses	7,971	8,539	3,484
Current liabilities – held for sale			5,306
Current liabilities – discontinued operations			44
Intercompany payable – current	9,578	4,198	15,000
Total current liabilities	41,087	50,386	52,087
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	1,469	1,464	4,378
Noncurrent liabilities – discontinued operations			10,408
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	82,149	129,907	282,943
Total other liabilities	83,618	131,371	297,729
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	169,843	165,970	(31,693)
Noncontrolling interests	698	663	744
Total equity	170,541	166,633	(30,949)
Total liabilities and equity	295,246	348,390	318,867
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(24,941)
Intercompany receivable - current	(12,004)	(9,653)	(20,268)
Total current assets	(12,004)	(34,594)	(20,268)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,049,808)	(1,031,670)	(727,852)
Intercompany receivable - noncurrent	(1,193,211)	(1,170,259)	(1,069,431)
Total assets	(2,255,023)	(2,236,523)	(1,817,551)
Liabilities and Equity
Other accrued expenses		(24,941)
Intercompany payable – current	(12,004)	(9,653)	(20,268)
Total current liabilities	(12,004)	(34,594)	(20,268)
Other liabilities
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	(1,193,211)	(1,170,259)	(1,069,431)
Total other liabilities	(1,193,211)	(1,170,259)	(1,069,431)
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,049,808)	(1,031,670)	(727,852)
Total equity	(1,049,808)	(1,031,670)	(727,852)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (2,255,023)	$ (2,236,523)	$ (1,817,551)