Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 04, 2018	Jul. 29, 2017	Aug. 04, 2018	Jul. 29, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 706,612	$ 676,954	$ 1,338,754	$ 1,308,463
Cost of goods sold	413,511	389,493	770,731	750,094
Gross profit	293,101	287,461	568,023	558,369
Selling and administrative expenses	258,835	256,170	509,033	502,681
Restructuring and other special charges, net	2,123	2,865	3,900	3,973
Operating earnings (loss)	32,143	28,426	55,090	51,715
Interest (expense) income	(3,602)	(4,375)	(7,285)	(9,184)
Other income (expense)	3,078	2,670	6,169	5,106
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	31,619	26,721	53,974	47,637
Income tax (benefit) provision	(8,008)	(9,047)	(13,183)	(15,079)
Net earnings	23,611	17,674	40,791	32,558
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(35)	79	(67)	61
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	23,646	17,595	40,858	32,497
Comprehensive income	22,907	19,401	39,192	34,941
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(92)	99	(132)	76
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	22,999	19,302	39,324	34,865
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	212,252	194,305	411,512	388,745
Cost of goods sold	150,630	137,659	285,223	270,510
Gross profit	61,622	56,646	126,289	118,235
Selling and administrative expenses	73,587	63,042	139,930	117,911
Restructuring and other special charges, net	324	2,661	848	3,769
Operating earnings (loss)	(12,289)	(9,057)	(14,489)	(3,445)
Interest (expense) income	(3,805)	(4,549)	(7,624)	(9,496)
Other income (expense)	3,084	2,679	6,204	5,124
Intercompany interest income (expense)	2,873	2,021	5,641	4,104
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(10,137)	(8,906)	(10,268)	(3,713)
Income tax (benefit) provision	1,900	2,926	947	1,839
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	31,883	23,575	50,179	34,371
Net earnings	23,646	17,595	40,858	32,497
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	23,646	17,595	40,858	32,497
Comprehensive income	22,999	19,302	39,324	34,865
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	22,999	19,302	39,324	34,865
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	501,803	482,645	947,498	910,184
Cost of goods sold	288,580	270,548	536,379	502,334
Gross profit	213,223	212,097	411,119	407,850
Selling and administrative expenses	185,510	190,444	363,396	372,791
Restructuring and other special charges, net	1,799	37	3,052	37
Operating earnings (loss)	25,914	21,616	44,671	35,022
Interest (expense) income	(13)	(3)	(25)	(12)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,900)	(2,189)	(5,699)	(4,513)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	23,001	19,424	38,947	30,497
Income tax (benefit) provision	(6,833)	(8,053)	(10,135)	(11,928)
Net earnings	16,168	11,371	28,812	18,569
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	16,168	11,371	28,812	18,569
Comprehensive income	16,158	11,371	28,784	18,569
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	16,158	11,371	28,784	18,569
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	64,765	63,175	102,157	101,220
Cost of goods sold	33,409	32,543	51,276	51,073
Gross profit	31,356	30,632	50,881	50,147
Selling and administrative expenses	12,838	14,598	25,973	29,842
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	167	0	167
Operating earnings (loss)	18,518	15,867	24,908	20,138
Interest (expense) income	216	177	364
Other income (expense)	(6)	(9)	(35)	(18)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	27	168	58	409
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	18,755	16,203	25,295	20,853
Income tax (benefit) provision	(3,075)	(3,920)	(3,995)	(4,990)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(116)	271	(594)	(777)
Net earnings	15,564	12,554	20,706	15,086
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(35)	79	(67)	61
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	15,599	12,475	20,773	15,025
Comprehensive income	15,467	13,302	20,462	15,755
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(92)	99	(132)	76
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	15,559	13,203	20,594	15,679
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(72,208)	(63,171)	(122,413)	(91,686)
Cost of goods sold	(59,108)	(51,257)	(102,147)	(73,823)
Gross profit	(13,100)	(11,914)	(20,266)	(17,863)
Selling and administrative expenses	(13,100)	(11,914)	(20,266)	(17,863)
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0		0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(31,767)	(23,846)	(49,585)	(33,594)
Net earnings	(31,767)	(23,846)	(49,585)	(33,594)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(31,767)	(23,846)	(49,585)	(33,594)
Comprehensive income	(31,717)	(24,574)	(49,378)	(34,248)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (31,717)	$ (24,574)	$ (49,378)	$ (34,248)