Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 635,877	$ 621,706	$ 1,227,039	$ 1,210,362
Cost of goods sold	376,235	367,080	725,056	715,720
Gross profit	259,642	254,626	501,983	494,642
Selling and administrative expenses	228,340	231,071	441,955	444,950
Restructuring and other special charges, net		743		1,262
Impairment of assets held for sale				4,660
Operating earnings	31,302	22,812	60,028	43,770
Interest expense	(5,125)	(5,192)	(10,431)	(10,913)
Interest income	109	82	185	150
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	26,286	17,702	49,782	33,007
Income tax provision	(8,247)	(4,081)	(16,267)	(12,027)
Net earnings from continuing operations	18,039	13,621	33,515	20,980
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0, $2,588, $0 and $6,171, respectively		620		(5,017)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax		1,042		(11,512)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		1,662		(16,529)
Net earnings	18,039	15,283	33,515	4,451
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)	(74)	22	(144)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 18,064	$ 15,357	$ 33,493	$ 4,595
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.41	$ 0.32	$ 0.77	$ 0.51
From discontinued operations		$ 0.04		$ (0.40)
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.41	$ 0.36	$ 0.77	$ 0.11
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations	$ 0.41	$ 0.31	$ 0.76	$ 0.50
From discontinued operations		$ 0.04		$ (0.40)
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.41	$ 0.35	$ 0.76	$ 0.10
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.14	$ 0.14