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Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Business Segment Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2015 retail_store	Nov. 01, 2014	Aug. 02, 2014	May 03, 2014	Feb. 01, 2014	Nov. 02, 2013	Aug. 03, 2013	May 04, 2013	Jan. 31, 2015 retail_store	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Stores	1,209us-gaap_NumberOfStores								1,209us-gaap_NumberOfStores
External sales	$ 615,393us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 729,277us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 635,877us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 591,162us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 599,962us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 702,788us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 621,706us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 588,656us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 2,571,709us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 2,513,113us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 2,477,796us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Intersegment sales									2,571,709us-gaap_Revenues	2,513,113us-gaap_Revenues	2,477,796us-gaap_Revenues
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									51,615	55,329	54,783
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts									2,400	2,513	2,561
Operating earnings (loss)									125,934us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	98,617us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	74,478us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Segment assets - continuing operations	1,216,812us-gaap_Assets				1,149,403us-gaap_Assets				1,216,812us-gaap_Assets	1,149,403us-gaap_Assets
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets									44,952	43,968	55,801
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	5,086us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet				5,235us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet				5,086us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet	5,235us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet	7,928us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet
Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment assets - continuing operations	1,216,812				1,149,403				1,216,812	1,149,403	1,173,973
Famous Footwear [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Stores	1,038								1,038
External sales									1,589,258	1,588,552	1,583,242
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									26,581	25,917	22,827
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts									0	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)									104,581	105,382	94,234
Segment assets - continuing operations	458,847				448,549				458,847	448,549
Famous Footwear [Member] \| Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment assets - continuing operations											488,464
Brand Portfolio [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales									982,451	924,561	894,554
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									8,974	13,440	16,671
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts									0	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)									73,403	39,909	21,259
Segment assets - continuing operations	518,099				514,902				518,099	514,902	552,428
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets									6,105	6,026	15,685
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	58				122				58	122	3
Other Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales									0	0	0
Intersegment sales									0	0	0
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization									16,060	15,972	15,285
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts									2,400	2,513	2,561
Operating earnings (loss)									(52,050)	(46,674)	(41,015)
Segment assets - continuing operations	239,866				185,952				239,866	185,952
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets									5,846	5,214	5,185
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	4,830				4,920				4,830	4,920	7,925
Other Segment [Member] \| Continuing Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment assets - continuing operations											133,081
Famous Footware [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Payments to Acquire Productive Assets									33,001	32,728	34,931
Capitalized Computer Software, Net	198				193				198	193	0
UNITED STATES \| Specialty Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Stores	82								82
CANADA
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Intersegment sales									58,883	60,783	68,441
CANADA \| Specialty Retail [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Stores	89								89
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] \| Brand Portfolio [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
External sales									$ 114,408	$ 132,596	$ 141,634