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		9 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013	Nov. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
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 benefit (provision)	(14,878)	(12,495)	(31,146)	(24,522)
Net earnings from continuing operations	33,237	27,051	66,752	48,031
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	233	0	(4,784)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax	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
Less: 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
Comprehensive (loss) income	32,107	27,290	65,587	30,830
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	93	(25)	100	(114)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	32,014	27,315	65,487	30,944
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	233,606	213,028	596,364	551,962
Cost of goods sold	165,734	157,500	429,633	412,736
Gross profit	67,872	55,528	166,731	139,226
Selling and administrative expenses	62,554	53,327	168,900	169,097
Restructuring and other special charges, net				686
Operating earnings	5,318	2,201	(2,169)	(30,557)
Interest expense	(5,207)	(5,254)	(15,636)	(16,076)
Interest income	6	4	19	17
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,608	3,558	11,410	10,487
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	3,725	509	(6,376)	(36,129)
Income tax benefit (provision)	551	(5,011)	2,698	2,630
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	28,837	31,583	70,284	81,704
Net earnings from continuing operations		27,081		48,205
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		300		(5,582)
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(67)		(10,714)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		233		(16,296)
Net earnings	33,113	27,314	66,606	31,909
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	33,113	27,314	66,606	31,909
Comprehensive (loss) income	32,014	27,315	65,487	30,944
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	32,014	27,315	65,487	30,944
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	488,876	498,383	1,335,655	1,361,742
Cost of goods sold	274,595	282,617	736,588	754,229
Gross profit	214,281	215,766	599,067	607,513
Selling and administrative expenses	172,758	178,810	509,956	504,351
Restructuring and other special charges, net				576
Operating earnings	41,523	36,956	89,111	102,586
Interest expense			(1)	(91)
Interest income	56	69	181	201
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(3,504)	(3,693)	(12,118)	(10,879)
Intercompany dividend		7,778		7,778
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	38,075	41,110	77,173	99,595
Income tax benefit (provision)	(14,190)	(6,822)	(30,106)	(26,995)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	4,952	(2,705)	23,217	9,104
Net earnings from continuing operations		31,583		81,704
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(44)		1,137
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax				1,042
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		(23)		(12,893)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		(67)		(10,714)
Net earnings	28,837	31,516	70,284	70,990
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	28,837	31,516	70,284	70,990
Comprehensive (loss) income	27,896	31,308	69,892	69,709
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	27,896	31,308	69,892	69,709
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	41,363	36,753	134,483	136,825
Cost of goods sold	32,786	29,807	107,568	110,682
Gross profit	8,577	6,946	26,915	26,143
Selling and administrative expenses	2,205	1,435	616	5,074
Impairment of assets held for sale				4,660
Operating earnings	6,372	5,511	26,299	16,409
Interest income	47	59	94	64
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(104)	135	708	392
Intercompany dividend		(7,778)		(7,778)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	6,315	(2,073)	27,101	9,087
Income tax benefit (provision)	(1,239)	(662)	(3,738)	(157)
Net earnings from continuing operations		(2,735)		8,930
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(23)		(339)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax				(12,554)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		(23)		(12,893)
Net earnings	5,076	(2,758)	23,363	(3,963)
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	124	(30)	146	(174)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	4,952	(2,728)	23,217	(3,789)
Comprehensive (loss) income	5,107	(2,758)	23,373	(7,285)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest	93	(25)	100	(114)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	5,014	(2,733)	23,273	(7,171)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(34,568)	(45,376)	(110,186)	(137,379)
Cost of goods sold	(34,568)	(45,376)	(110,186)	(137,379)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(33,789)	(28,878)	(93,501)	(90,808)
Net earnings from continuing operations		(28,878)		(90,808)
Equity in earnings (loss) from discontinuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax		90		23,607
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations		90		23,607
Net earnings	(33,789)	(28,788)	(93,501)	(67,201)
Net earnings attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(33,789)	(28,788)	(93,501)	(67,201)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(32,910)	(28,575)	(93,165)	(62,538)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (32,910)	$ (28,575)	$ (93,165)	$ (62,538)