Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share (Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2018	[1]	Oct. 28, 2017	[1]	Jul. 29, 2017	[1]	Apr. 29, 2017	[1]	Jan. 28, 2017	[1]	Oct. 29, 2016	[1]	Jul. 30, 2016	[1]	Apr. 30, 2016	[1]	Feb. 03, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016
NUMERATOR
Net earnings																	$ 87,231	$ 66,086	$ 81,824
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(31)	(428)	(345)
Net earnings allocated to participating securities																	(2,384)	(1,750)	(2,587)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities																	$ 84,816	$ 63,908	$ 78,892
DENOMINATOR
Denominator for basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders																	41,801	42,026	42,455
Dilutive effect of share-based awards																	179	155	201
Denominator for diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders																	41,980	42,181	42,656
Basic earnings per common share:
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.47		$ 0.80		$ 0.41		$ 0.35		$ (0.16)		$ 0.81		$ 0.46		$ 0.41		$ 2.03	$ 1.52	$ 1.86
Earnings Per Share, Diluted [Abstract]
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.47		$ 0.80		$ 0.41		$ 0.35		$ (0.16)		$ 0.81		$ 0.46		$ 0.41		$ 2.02	$ 1.52	$ 1.85

[1] EPS for the quarters may not sum to the annual amount as each period is computed on a discrete period basis.