Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
May 02, 2015	May 03, 2014
NUMERATOR
Net earnings	$ 19,391	$ 15,476
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(130)	(47)
Undistributed Earnings (Loss) Allocated to Participating Securities, Basic	654	592
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities	$ 18,607	$ 14,837
DENOMINATOR
Denominator for basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	42,313,000	41,887,000
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	145,000	229,000
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	42,458,000	42,116,000
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.35us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Options to purchase common stock, not included in computation of diluted earnings per common share	62,997	74,997

Net income loss attributable to parent after allocation of earnings to participating securities.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of undistributed earnings (loss) allocated to participating securities for the basic earnings (loss) per share or per unit calculation under the two-class method.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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