Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	May 03, 2014	May 04, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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 benefit (provision)	(8,020)	(7,946)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	15,476	7,359
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(5,637)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of 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)
Comprehensive (loss) income	15,953	(11,491)
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	35	(28)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,918	(11,463)
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	179,160	158,781
Cost of goods sold	127,466	116,330
Gross profit	51,694	42,451
Selling and administrative expenses	49,197	50,000
Restructuring and other special charges, net		519
Operating earnings	2,497	(8,068)
Interest expense	(5,305)	(5,630)
Interest income	1	3
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,974	3,454
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	1,167	(10,241)
Income tax benefit (provision)	464	3,382
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	13,798
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		14,288
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	15,429	7,429
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(6,948)
Equity in loss from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(11,243)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(18,191)
Net earnings (loss)		(10,762)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,429	(10,762)
Comprehensive (loss) income	15,918	(11,463)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,918	(11,463)
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	401,580	418,538
Cost of goods sold	218,366	229,956
Gross profit	183,214	188,582
Selling and administrative expenses	159,967	159,852
Operating earnings	23,247	28,730
Interest expense	(1)	(91)
Interest income	59	64
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(4,079)	(3,579)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	19,226	25,124
Income tax benefit (provision)	(7,954)	(10,566)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	2,526
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(270)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	13,798	14,288
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,591
Equity in loss from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(12,834)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(11,243)
Net earnings (loss)		3,045
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	13,798	3,045
Comprehensive (loss) income	14,355	2,445
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	14,355	2,445
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	36,624	42,604
Cost of goods sold	29,191	33,621
Gross profit	7,433	8,983
Selling and administrative expenses	4,451	4,027
Impairment of assets held for sale		4,660
Operating earnings	2,982	296
Interest income	16	1
Intercompany interest income (expense)	105	125
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	3,103	422
Income tax benefit (provision)	(530)	(762)
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		225
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	2,573	(115)
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(280)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax		(12,554)
Net loss from discontinued operations		(12,834)
Net earnings (loss)		(12,949)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	47	(70)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	2,526	(12,879)
Comprehensive (loss) income	2,520	(12,920)
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	35	(28)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	2,485	(12,892)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(26,202)	(31,267)
Cost of goods sold	(26,202)	(31,267)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax	(16,324)
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(14,243)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(16,324)	(14,243)
Equity in loss from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		24,077
Net loss from discontinued operations		24,077
Net earnings (loss)		9,834
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(16,324)	9,834
Comprehensive (loss) income	(16,840)	10,447
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (16,840)	$ 10,447