Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 02, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	May 03, 2014	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 66,330	$ 67,403	$ 36,668	$ 82,546	$ 82,546
Receivables, net	126,512	136,646	105,746
Inventories, net	498,513	543,103	512,811
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	41,003	43,744	37,913
Total current assets	732,358	790,896	693,138
Other assets	144,309	141,586	136,256
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	133,657	134,587	137,750
Property and equipment, net	153,350	149,743	141,818
Total assets	1,163,674	1,216,812	1,108,962
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	172,116	215,921	195,703
Other accrued expenses	158,700	181,162	141,718
Total current liabilities	330,816	397,083	337,421
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,244	199,197	199,057
Other liabilities	79,294	78,910	79,713
Total other liabilities	278,538	278,107	278,770
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	553,474	540,910	492,073
Noncontrolling interests	846	712	698
Total equity	554,320	541,622	492,771
Total liabilities and equity	1,163,674	1,216,812	1,108,962
Parent [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	8,528	13,891
Receivables, net	101,968	89,030	83,713
Inventories, net	95,948	148,082	93,159
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	18,820	41,494	34,476
Intercompany receivable – current	1,082	1,194	981
Total current assets	226,346	293,691	212,329
Other assets	130,781	127,879	120,941
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	117,226	117,792	119,666
Property and equipment, net	34,186	29,237	27,303
Investment in subsidiaries	998,697	982,640	879,965
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	431,964	459,774	450,481
Total assets	1,939,200	2,011,013	1,810,685
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	8,381	60,377	48,509
Other accrued expenses	66,040	106,682	69,665
Intercompany payable – current	2,034	4,948	2,367
Total current liabilities	76,455	172,007	120,541
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	199,244	199,197	199,057
Other liabilities	41,212	41,847	33,499
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	1,068,815	1,057,052	965,515
Total other liabilities	1,309,271	1,298,096	1,198,071
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	553,474	540,910	492,073
Total equity	553,474	540,910	492,073
Total liabilities and equity	1,939,200	2,011,013	1,810,685
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	413	8,770	25,528		30,002
Receivables, net	1,657	5,398	1,412
Inventories, net	396,642	386,468	414,424
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,335	24,397	507
Intercompany receivable – current	432	279	368
Total current assets	423,479	425,312	442,239
Other assets	12,931	13,104	14,678
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	16,431	16,795	18,084
Property and equipment, net	117,144	118,525	112,630
Investment in subsidiaries	219,134	200,946	169,843
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	601,993	581,594	500,580
Total assets	1,391,112	1,356,276	1,258,054
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	141,613	117,899	123,656
Other accrued expenses	91,553	94,108	64,082
Intercompany payable – current	237	361	59
Total current liabilities	233,403	212,368	187,797
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	37,890	36,869	44,745
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	121,122	124,399	145,547
Total other liabilities	159,012	161,268	190,292
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	998,697	982,640	879,965
Total equity	998,697	982,640	879,965
Total liabilities and equity	1,391,112	1,356,276	1,258,054
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	57,389	44,742	11,140		52,544
Receivables, net	22,887	42,218	20,621
Inventories, net	5,923	8,553	5,228
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,149	5,344	2,930
Intercompany receivable – current	15,800	8,471	10,655
Total current assets	106,148	109,328	50,574
Other assets	597	603	637
Property and equipment, net	2,020	1,981	1,885
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	268,758	264,673	242,150
Total assets	377,523	376,585	295,246
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	22,122	37,645	23,538
Other accrued expenses	7,408	7,863	7,971
Intercompany payable – current	15,043	4,635	9,578
Total current liabilities	44,573	50,143	41,087
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	192	194	1,469
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	112,778	124,590	82,149
Total other liabilities	112,970	124,784	83,618
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	219,134	200,946	169,843
Noncontrolling interests	846	712	698
Total equity	219,980	201,658	170,541
Total liabilities and equity	377,523	376,585	295,246
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,301)	(27,491)
Intercompany receivable – current	(17,314)	(9,944)	(12,004)
Total current assets	(23,615)	(37,435)	(12,004)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,217,831)	(1,183,586)	(1,049,808)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	(1,302,715)	(1,306,041)	(1,193,211)
Total assets	(2,544,161)	(2,527,062)	(2,255,023)
Liabilities and Equity
Other accrued expenses	(6,301)	(27,491)	0
Intercompany payable – current	(17,314)	(9,944)	(12,004)
Total current liabilities	(23,615)	(37,435)	(12,004)
Other liabilities
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	(1,302,715)	(1,306,041)	(1,193,211)
Total other liabilities	(1,302,715)	(1,306,041)	(1,193,211)
Equity
Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,217,831)	(1,183,586)	(1,049,808)
Total equity	(1,217,831)	(1,183,586)	(1,049,808)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (2,544,161)	$ (2,527,062)	$ (2,255,023)