Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013	Jan. 28, 2012
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 67,403	$ 82,546	$ 68,223	$ 47,682
Receivables, net	136,646	129,217
Inventories, net	543,103	547,531
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	43,744	33,136
Current assets – discontinued operations	0	119
Intercompany receivable – current	0	0
Total current assets	790,896	792,549
Property and equipment, net	149,743	143,560
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	141,586	139,621
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	134,587	73,673
Total assets	1,216,812	1,149,403
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	0	7,000
Trade accounts payable	215,921	226,602
Other accrued expenses	88,740	85,603
Accrued Liabilities Current Including Employee Comp and Income Taxes	181,162	152,545
Current liabilities – discontinued operations	0	708
Total current liabilities	397,083	386,855
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,197	199,010
Other liabilities	78,910	86,176
Total other liabilities	278,107	285,186
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	540,910	476,699
Noncontrolling interests	712	663
Total equity	541,622	477,362	425,901	413,716
Total liabilities and equity	1,216,812	1,149,403
Parent [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	13,891	0		(4,386)
Receivables, net	89,030	84,428
Inventories, net	148,082	119,131
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	41,494	38,069
Current assets – discontinued operations		119
Intercompany receivable – current	1,194	602
Total current assets	293,691	242,349
Property and equipment, net	29,237	27,201
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	127,879	123,066
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	117,792	55,225
Investment in subsidiaries	982,640	865,700
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	459,774	457,507
Total assets	2,011,013	1,771,048
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement		7,000
Trade accounts payable	60,377	72,349
Other accrued expenses	106,682	81,902
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		708
Intercompany payable – current	4,948	4,689
Total current liabilities	172,007	166,648
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,197	199,010
Other liabilities	41,847	38,657
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	1,057,052	890,034
Total other liabilities	1,298,096	1,127,701
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	540,910	476,699
Total equity	540,910	476,699
Total liabilities and equity	2,011,013	1,771,048
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	8,770	30,002	32,060	34,332
Receivables, net	5,398	2,349
Inventories, net	386,468	421,101
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	24,397	16,024
Current assets – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany receivable – current	279	191
Total current assets	425,312	469,667
Property and equipment, net	118,525	114,359
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	13,104	15,864
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	16,795	18,448
Investment in subsidiaries	200,946	165,970
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	581,594	482,180
Total assets	1,356,276	1,266,488
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	117,899	116,604
Other accrued expenses	94,108	87,045
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany payable – current	361	766
Total current liabilities	212,368	204,415
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	36,869	46,055
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	124,399	150,318
Total other liabilities	161,268	196,373
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	982,640	865,700
Total equity	982,640	865,700
Total liabilities and equity	1,356,276	1,266,488
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	44,742	52,544	36,163	17,736
Receivables, net	42,218	42,440
Inventories, net	8,553	7,299
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	5,344	3,984
Current assets – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany receivable – current	8,471	8,860
Total current assets	109,328	115,127
Property and equipment, net	1,981	2,000
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	603	691
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	264,673	230,572
Total assets	376,585	348,390
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	37,645	37,649
Other accrued expenses	7,863	8,539
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany payable – current	4,635	4,198
Total current liabilities	50,143	50,386
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	194	1,464
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	124,590	129,907
Total other liabilities	124,784	131,371
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	200,946	165,970
Noncontrolling interests	712	663
Total equity	201,658	166,633
Total liabilities and equity	376,585	348,390
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	(27,491)	(24,941)
Current assets – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany receivable – current	(9,944)	(9,653)
Total current assets	(37,435)	(34,594)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,183,586)	(1,031,670)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	(1,306,041)	(1,170,259)
Total assets	(2,527,062)	(2,236,523)
Liabilities and Equity
Other accrued expenses	(27,491)	(24,941)
Current liabilities – discontinued operations		0
Intercompany payable – current	(9,944)	(9,653)
Total current liabilities	(37,435)	(34,594)
Other liabilities
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	(1,306,041)	(1,170,259)
Total other liabilities	(1,306,041)	(1,170,259)
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,183,586)	(1,031,670)
Total equity	(1,183,586)	(1,031,670)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (2,527,062)	$ (2,236,523)