Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013	Aug. 02, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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 benefit (provision)	(8,247)	(4,081)	(16,267)	(12,027)
Net earnings from continuing operations	18,039	13,621	33,515	20,980
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		620		(5,017)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of 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
Comprehensive (loss) income	17,527	15,031	33,480	3,540
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28)	(61)	7	(89)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	17,555	15,092	33,473	3,629
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	183,598	180,153	362,758	338,934
Cost of goods sold	136,433	138,906	263,899	255,236
Gross profit	47,165	41,247	98,859	83,698
Selling and administrative expenses	57,149	65,770	106,346	115,770
Restructuring and other special charges, net		167		686
Operating earnings	(9,984)	(24,690)	(7,487)	(32,758)
Interest expense	(5,125)	(5,192)	(10,430)	(10,822)
Interest income	12	10	13	13
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,828	3,475	7,802	6,929
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	(11,269)	(26,397)	(10,102)	(36,638)
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,684	4,259	2,148	7,641
Equity in earnings from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax	27,649	35,833	41,447	50,121
Net earnings from continuing operations	18,064	13,695		21,124
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		1,066		(5,882)
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		596		(10,647)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		1,662		(16,529)
Net earnings		15,357	33,493	4,595
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	18,064	15,357	33,493	4,595
Comprehensive (loss) income	17,555	15,092	33,473	3,629
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	17,555	15,092	33,473	3,629
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	445,199	444,821	846,779	863,359
Cost of goods sold	243,627	241,656	461,993	471,612
Gross profit	201,572	203,165	384,786	391,747
Selling and administrative expenses	177,231	165,689	337,198	325,541
Restructuring and other special charges, net		576		576
Operating earnings	24,341	36,900	47,588	65,630
Interest expense			(1)	(91)
Interest income	66	68	125	132
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(4,535)	(3,607)	(8,614)	(7,186)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	19,872	33,361	39,098	58,485
Income tax benefit (provision)	(7,962)	(9,607)	(15,916)	(20,173)
Equity in earnings from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax	15,739	12,079	18,265	11,809
Net earnings from continuing operations	27,649	35,833		50,121
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(410)		1,181
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax		1,042		1,042
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(36)		(12,870)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		596		(10,647)
Net earnings		36,429	41,447	39,474
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	27,649	36,429	41,447	39,474
Comprehensive (loss) income	27,640	35,956	41,996	38,401
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	27,640	35,956	41,996	38,401
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	56,496	57,468	93,120	100,072
Cost of goods sold	45,591	47,254	74,782	80,875
Gross profit	10,905	10,214	18,338	19,197
Selling and administrative expenses	(6,040)	(388)	(1,589)	3,639
Impairment of assets held for sale				4,660
Operating earnings	16,945	10,602	19,927	10,898
Interest income	31	4	47	5
Intercompany interest income (expense)	707	132	812	257
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	17,683	10,738	20,786	11,160
Income tax benefit (provision)	(1,969)	1,267	(2,499)	505
Net earnings from continuing operations	15,714	12,005		11,665
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(36)		(316)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax				(12,554)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		(36)		(12,870)
Net earnings		11,969	18,287	(1,205)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(25)	(74)	22	(144)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,739	12,043	18,265	(1,061)
Comprehensive (loss) income	15,745	8,393	18,266	(4,527)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(28)	(61)	7	(89)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,773	8,454	18,259	(4,438)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(49,416)	(60,736)	(75,618)	(92,003)
Cost of goods sold	(49,416)	(60,736)	(75,618)	(92,003)
Equity in earnings from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax	(43,388)	(47,912)	(59,712)	(61,930)
Net earnings from continuing operations	(43,388)	(47,912)		(61,930)
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(560)		23,517
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		(560)		23,517
Net earnings		(48,472)	(59,712)	(38,413)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(43,388)	(48,472)	(59,712)	(38,413)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(43,413)	(44,410)	(60,255)	(33,963)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (43,413)	$ (44,410)	$ (60,255)	$ (33,963)