Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016	Jul. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2015	May 02, 2015	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
NUMERATOR
Net earnings									$ 66,086	$ 81,824	$ 82,943
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests									(428)	(345)	(93)
Net earnings allocated to participating securities									(1,750)	(2,587)	(3,068)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities									$ 63,908	$ 78,892	$ 79,782
DENOMINATOR
Denominator for basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders									42,026	42,455	42,071
Dilutive effect of share-based awards									155	201	203
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders									42,181	42,656	42,274
Basic earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.16)	$ 0.81	$ 0.46	$ 0.41	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 1.52	$ 1.86	$ 1.90
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ (0.16)	$ 0.81	$ 0.46	$ 0.41	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 1.52	$ 1.85	$ 1.89