Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 55,332	$ 118,151	$ 67,403	$ 82,546
Receivables, net	153,121	153,664
Inventories, net	585,764	546,745
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	49,528	56,505
Intercompany receivable – current	0	0
Total current assets	843,745	875,065
Property and equipment, net	219,196	179,010
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	343,758	130,899
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	68,574	118,349
Total assets	1,475,273	1,303,323	1,214,327
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	110,000	0
Trade accounts payable	266,370	237,802
Other accrued expenses	151,225	152,497
Total current liabilities	527,595	390,299
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	197,003	196,544
Other liabilities	136,189	114,008
Total other liabilities	333,192	310,552
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	613,117	601,484
Noncontrolling interests	1,369	988
Total equity	614,486	602,472	541,622	477,362
Total liabilities and equity	1,475,273	1,303,323
Parent [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	23,999	31,000	13,891
Receivables, net	118,746	110,235
Inventories, net	150,098	151,704
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	24,293	29,765
Intercompany receivable – current	695	650
Total current assets	317,831	323,354
Property and equipment, net	31,424	32,538
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	113,333	115,558
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	51,181	94,767
Investment in subsidiaries	1,343,954	1,028,143
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	568,541	431,523
Total assets	2,426,264	2,025,883
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	110,000
Trade accounts payable	116,783	78,332
Other accrued expenses	74,941	80,053
Intercompany payable – current	12,794	4,394
Total current liabilities	314,518	162,779
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	197,003	196,544
Other liabilities	91,683	44,011
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	1,209,943	1,021,065
Total other liabilities	1,498,629	1,261,620
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	613,117	601,484
Total equity	613,117	601,484
Total liabilities and equity	2,426,264	2,025,883
Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	9,029	0
Receivables, net	5,414	2,290
Inventories, net	410,867	371,538
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	23,040	24,597
Intercompany receivable – current	263	176
Total current assets	448,613	398,601
Property and equipment, net	176,358	136,223
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	219,337	2,800
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	16,567	15,772
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	366,902	354,038
Total assets	1,227,777	907,434
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	112,434	123,274
Other accrued expenses	65,228	62,729
Total current liabilities	177,662	186,003
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	40,507	66,302
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	98,982	39,175
Total other liabilities	139,489	105,477
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	910,626	615,954
Total equity	910,626	615,954
Total liabilities and equity	1,227,777	907,434
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	22,304	87,151	$ 53,512	$ 82,546
Receivables, net	28,961	41,139
Inventories, net	24,799	23,503
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	8,058	8,109
Intercompany receivable – current	22,091	6,877
Total current assets	106,213	166,779
Property and equipment, net	11,414	10,249
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	11,088	12,541
Other Assets Noncurrent Including Pension and Deferred Taxes	826	7,810
Investment in subsidiaries	(21,946)	(19,524)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	581,624	556,259
Total assets	689,219	734,114
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	37,153	36,196
Other accrued expenses	16,919	15,681
Intercompany payable – current	10,255	3,309
Total current liabilities	64,327	55,186
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	3,999	3,695
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	208,142	281,580
Total other liabilities	212,141	285,275
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	411,382	392,665
Noncontrolling interests	1,369	988
Total equity	412,751	393,653
Total liabilities and equity	689,219	734,114
Eliminations [Member]
Assets
Prepaid Expense And Other Current Assets Including Taxes	(5,863)	(5,966)
Intercompany receivable – current	(23,049)	(7,703)
Total current assets	(28,912)	(13,669)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,322,008)	(1,008,619)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	(1,517,067)	(1,341,820)
Total assets	(2,867,987)	(2,364,108)
Liabilities and Equity
Other accrued expenses	(5,863)	(5,966)
Intercompany payable – current	(23,049)	(7,703)
Total current liabilities	(28,912)	(13,669)
Other liabilities
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	(1,517,067)	(1,341,820)
Total other liabilities	(1,517,067)	(1,341,820)
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,322,008)	(1,008,619)
Total equity	(1,322,008)	(1,008,619)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (2,867,987)	$ (2,364,108)