Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 729,277	$ 702,788	$ 1,956,316	$ 1,913,150
Cost of goods sold	438,547	424,548	1,163,603	1,140,268
Gross profit	290,730	278,240	792,713	772,882
Selling and administrative expenses	237,517	233,572	679,472	678,522
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	0	0	1,262
Impairment of assets held for sale	0	0	0	4,660
Operating earnings	53,213	44,668	113,241	88,438
Interest expense	(5,207)	(5,254)	(15,637)	(16,167)
Interest income	109	132	294	282
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	48,115	39,546	97,898	72,553
Income tax provision	(14,878)	(12,495)	(31,146)	(24,522)
Net earnings from continuing operations	33,237	27,051	66,752	48,031
Discontinued operations:
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax (expense) benefit of $0, ($114), $0 and $6,057, respectively	0	233	0	(4,784)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax of $0	0	0	0	(11,512)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	233	0	(16,296)
Net earnings	33,237	27,284	66,752	31,735
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	124	(30)	146	(174)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ 33,113	$ 27,314	$ 66,606	$ 31,909
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 0.63	$ 1.53	$ 1.12
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.38)
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.76	$ 0.63	$ 1.53	$ 0.74
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.62	$ 1.52	$ 1.11
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.38)
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.63	$ 1.52	$ 0.73
Dividends per common share	$ 0.07	$ 0.07	$ 0.21	$ 0.21