Long-Term And Short-Term Financing Arrangements (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Expiration date	Dec. 18, 2019
Maximum aggregate amount of revolving credit facility	$ 600,000,000
Amount borrowed under Credit Agreement	150,000,000
Percentage of borrowing base under condition one	13.00%
Total commitment under condition two	50,000,000
Number of consecutive business days over minimum	30 days
Percentage of borrowing base under condition two	10.00%
Fixed charge coverage ratio	100.00%bws_FixedChargeCoverageRatio
Maximum amount of borrowings under either the Credit Agreement or Former Credit Agreement at the end of any month	74,000,000	159,000,000
Average daily borrowings	37,600,000	69,300,000
Weighted average interest rate	2.90%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate	3.00%us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Amount of borrowings outstanding	0us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrent	7,000,000us-gaap_LinesOfCreditCurrent
Letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement	6,300,000
Additional borrowings under Credit Agreement	525,600,000
Aggregate principal amount	200,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Cash payments of interest for financing arrangements	17,900,000us-gaap_InterestPaid	18,700,000us-gaap_InterestPaid	20,300,000us-gaap_InterestPaid
Loss on early extinguishment of 2012 Senior Notes	$ 420,000	$ 0	$ 0
2019 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	7.125%
2012 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate	9.00%

Fixed charge coverage ratio.

No definition available.

Name:	bws_FixedChargeCoverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit borrowing capacity increase option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bws_LineOfCreditBorrowingCapacityIncreaseOption
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of credit facility borrowing base availability under condition two.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bws_LineOfCreditFacilityBorrowingBaseAvailabilityUnderConditionTwo
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility percentage of borrowing base under condition one.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bws_LineOfCreditFacilityPercentageOfBorrowingBaseUnderConditionOne
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility percentage of borrowing base under condition two.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bws_LineOfCreditFacilityPercentageOfBorrowingBaseUnderConditionTwo
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of consecutive business days for borrowing base availability over minimum under condition two.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	bws_NumberOfConsecutiveBusinessDaysForBorrowingBaseAvailabilityOverMinimumUnderConditionOne
Namespace Prefix:	bws_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtWeightedAverageInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12317-112629

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 50

-Section 40

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6850294&loc=d3e12355-112629

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for interest during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 25

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average amount borrowed under the credit facility during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAverageOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum month-end amount borrowed under the credit facility during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Industry Guide

-Number 3

-Section VII

-Subsection 2

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumMonthendOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current portion of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.20)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Line-of-Credit Arrangement

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6517033

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=bws_TwoThousandNineteenSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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