Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statements of Earnings) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2019		Nov. 03, 2018		Aug. 04, 2018		May 05, 2018		Feb. 03, 2018		Oct. 28, 2017		Jul. 29, 2017		Apr. 29, 2017		Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018	Jan. 28, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 720,263		$ 775,829		$ 706,612		$ 632,142		$ 702,465		$ 774,656		$ 676,954		$ 631,509		$ 2,834,846	$ 2,785,584	$ 2,579,388
Cost of goods sold																	1,678,502	1,616,935	1,517,397
Gross profit	277,712		310,610		293,101		274,921		293,395		316,885		287,461		270,908		1,156,344	1,168,649	1,061,991
Selling and administrative expenses																	1,041,765	1,036,051	942,595
Goodwill and Impairment Loss																	98,044	0	0
Restructuring and other special charges, net																	16,134	4,915	23,404
Operating earnings																	401	127,683	95,992
Interest expense																	(18,277)	(17,325)	(13,731)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																	(186)	0	0
Interest income																	12,308	12,348	14,993
Earnings before income taxes																	(5,754)	122,706	97,254
Income tax provision																	273	(35,475)	(31,168)
Net earnings	(75,427)	[1]	29,155	[1]	23,611	[1]	17,180	[1]	20,301	[2]	34,373	[2]	17,674	[2]	14,884	[2]	(5,481)	87,231	66,086
Net loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(40)	31	428
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (75,452)	[1]	$ 29,153	[1]	$ 23,646	[1]	$ 17,212	[1]	$ 20,316	[2]	$ 34,387	[2]	$ 17,595	[2]	$ 14,902	[2]	(5,441)	87,200	65,658
Parent
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales																	888,234	837,849	825,654
Cost of goods sold																	619,120	580,038	583,131
Gross profit																	269,114	257,811	242,523
Selling and administrative expenses																	267,584	246,208	227,149
Restructuring and other special charges, net																	9,734	3,942	15,333
Operating earnings																	(8,204)	7,661	41
Interest expense																	(19,048)	(17,743)	(14,291)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt																	(186)
Interest income																	12,408	12,348	14,993
Intercompany interest income (expense)																	11,436	8,354	8,888
Earnings before income taxes																	(3,594)	10,620	9,631
Income tax provision																	1,687	(24,963)	(5,075)
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax																	(3,534)	101,543	61,102
Net earnings																	(5,441)	87,200	65,658
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.																	(5,441)	87,200	65,658
Guarantors
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales																	1,975,219	1,935,265	1,692,093
Cost of goods sold																	1,157,558	1,090,354	938,169
Gross profit																	817,661	844,911	753,924
Selling and administrative expenses																	760,754	771,027	690,292
Restructuring and other special charges, net																	6,400	756	433
Operating earnings																	50,507	73,128	63,199
Interest expense																	(25)	(14)	(9)
Intercompany interest income (expense)																	(11,494)	(8,813)	(9,033)
Earnings before income taxes																	38,988	64,301	54,157
Income tax provision																	(7,719)	(175)	(20,084)
Net earnings																	31,269	64,126	34,073
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.																	31,269	64,126	34,073
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales																	237,607	211,815	227,557
Cost of goods sold																	124,037	109,104	129,410
Gross profit																	113,570	102,711	98,147
Selling and administrative expenses																	57,428	55,600	57,757
Goodwill and Impairment Loss																	98,000
Restructuring and other special charges, net																	0	217	7,638
Operating earnings																	(41,902)	46,894	32,752
Interest expense																	796	432	569
Interest income																	(100)		0
Intercompany interest income (expense)																	58	459	145
Earnings before income taxes																	(41,148)	47,785	33,466
Income tax provision																	6,305	(10,337)	(6,009)
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax																	(1,275)	(1,619)	(2,422)
Net earnings																	(36,118)	35,829	25,035
Net loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests																	(40)	31	428
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.																	(36,078)	35,798	24,607
Eliminations
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales																	(266,214)	(199,345)	(165,916)
Cost of goods sold																	(222,213)	(162,561)	(133,313)
Gross profit																	(44,001)	(36,784)	(32,603)
Selling and administrative expenses																	(44,001)	(36,784)	(32,603)
Equity in earnings (loss) from continuing operations of subsidiaries, net of tax																	4,809	(99,924)	(58,680)
Net earnings																	4,809	(99,924)	(58,680)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.																	$ 4,809	$ (99,924)	$ (58,680)

[1] The fourth quarter of 2018 reflects impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of $83.0 million on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the impact of amortization of the inventory fair value adjustments required for purchase accounting of $6.1 million on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, and several restructuring and other charges totaling $4.7 million, on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements.

[2] The first and second quarters of 2017 reflect the impact of amortization of the inventory fair value adjustment required for purchase accounting of $1.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements and several restructuring and other charges totaling$0.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively, on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. The fourth quarter of 2017 reflects restructuring charges totaling $0.6 million, on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements and the benefit of income tax reform of $0.3 million, as further described in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.