Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 30,200	$ 64,047	$ 55,332	$ 118,151
Receivables, net	191,722	152,613
Inventories, net	683,171	569,379
Prepaid expenses and other current assets incl. taxes	71,354	60,750
Intercompany receivable – current	0	0
Total current assets	976,447	846,789
Property and equipment, net	230,784	212,799
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	549,897	339,168
Other assets noncurrent incl. pension and deferred taxes	81,440	90,659
Total assets	1,838,568	1,489,415	1,475,273
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	335,000	0
Trade accounts payable	316,298	272,962
Other accrued expenses	202,038	157,197
Total current liabilities	853,336	430,159
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	197,932	197,472
Other liabilities	151,865	142,822
Total other liabilities	349,797	340,294
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	634,053	717,489
Noncontrolling interests	1,382	1,473
Total equity	635,435	718,962	614,486	602,472
Total liabilities and equity	1,838,568	1,489,415
Parent
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	2	26,089	23,999	31,000
Receivables, net	130,684	124,957
Inventories, net	175,697	146,068
Prepaid expenses and other current assets incl. taxes	31,195	26,284
Intercompany receivable – current	190	521
Total current assets	337,768	323,919
Property and equipment, net	62,608	35,474
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	108,884	111,108
Other assets noncurrent incl. pension and deferred taxes	68,707	76,317
Investment in subsidiaries	1,499,209	1,329,428
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	597,515	774,588
Total assets	2,674,691	2,650,834
Liabilities and Equity
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	335,000
Trade accounts payable	146,400	136,797
Other accrued expenses	95,498	65,817
Intercompany payable – current	10,781	5,524
Total current liabilities	587,679	208,138
Other liabilities
Long-term debt	197,932	197,472
Other liabilities	105,689	101,784
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	1,149,338	1,425,951
Total other liabilities	1,452,959	1,725,207
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	634,053	717,489
Total equity	634,053	717,489
Total liabilities and equity	2,674,691	2,650,834
Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	9,148	0	9,029
Receivables, net	32,319	3,663
Inventories, net	470,610	394,438
Prepaid expenses and other current assets incl. taxes	32,556	30,456
Intercompany receivable – current	42	74
Total current assets	544,675	428,631
Property and equipment, net	157,270	165,227
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	331,810	40,937
Other assets noncurrent incl. pension and deferred taxes	11,824	13,610
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	578,821	520,362
Total assets	1,624,400	1,168,767
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	130,670	102,420
Other accrued expenses	86,015	74,006
Total current liabilities	216,685	176,426
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	41,149	35,574
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	115,114	98,610
Total other liabilities	156,263	134,184
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	1,251,452	858,157
Total equity	1,251,452	858,157
Total liabilities and equity	1,624,400	1,168,767
Non-Guarantors
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	21,050	37,958	$ 22,304	$ 87,151
Receivables, net	28,719	23,993
Inventories, net	36,864	28,873
Prepaid expenses and other current assets incl. taxes	7,603	8,394
Intercompany receivable – current	15,279	9,250
Total current assets	109,515	108,468
Property and equipment, net	10,906	12,098
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	109,203	187,123
Other assets noncurrent incl. pension and deferred taxes	909	732
Investment in subsidiaries	(24,838)	(23,565)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	762,281	704,810
Total assets	967,976	989,666
Liabilities and Equity
Trade accounts payable	39,228	33,745
Other accrued expenses	20,525	21,758
Intercompany payable – current	4,730	4,321
Total current liabilities	64,483	59,824
Other liabilities
Other liabilities	5,027	5,464
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	674,165	475,199
Total other liabilities	679,192	480,663
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	222,919	447,706
Noncontrolling interests	1,382	1,473
Total equity	224,301	449,179
Total liabilities and equity	967,976	989,666
Eliminations
Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets incl. taxes	0	(4,384)
Intercompany receivable – current	(15,511)	(9,845)
Total current assets	(15,511)	(14,229)
Investment in subsidiaries	(1,474,371)	(1,305,863)
Intercompany receivable – noncurrent	(1,938,617)	(1,999,760)
Total assets	(3,428,499)	(3,319,852)
Liabilities and Equity
Other accrued expenses	0	(4,384)
Intercompany payable – current	(15,511)	(9,845)
Total current liabilities	(15,511)	(14,229)
Other liabilities
Intercompany payable – noncurrent	(1,938,617)	(1,999,760)
Total other liabilities	(1,938,617)	(1,999,760)
Equity
Total Caleres, Inc. shareholders' equity	(1,474,371)	(1,305,863)
Total equity	(1,474,371)	(1,305,863)
Total liabilities and equity	$ (3,428,499)	$ (3,319,852)