Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details)		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				13 Months Ended
	Feb. 04, 2018 USD ($)	May 04, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2019 USD ($) retail_store	Feb. 02, 2019 USD ($) retail_store	Feb. 03, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2019 USD ($) retail_store	Jan. 01, 2018
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of Stores | retail_store			1,221	1,221				1,221
Provision for doubtful accounts				$ 518,000	$ 1,336,000	$ 1,384,000
Provision for customer discounts				$ 5,500,000	4,800,000	3,600,000
Percentage of LIFO inventory			88.00%	88.00%				88.00%
Inventories, adjustment to last-in, first-out cost			$ 3,310,000	$ 3,310,000	4,038,000			$ 3,310,000
Selling and administrative expenses				1,041,765,000	1,036,051,000	942,595,000
Other assets			23,781,000	23,781,000	25,779,000			23,781,000
Capitalized Computer Software, Additions				500,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss				38,000,000
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)				60,000,000
Cost-method Investments, Realized Losses						7,000,000
Self insurance reserves			11,600,000	11,600,000	11,000,000			11,600,000
Increase (Decrease) in Gift Card Liability				900,000	1,700,000	700,000	$ 700,000
Rewards program liability			14,637,000	14,637,000	8,130,000			14,637,000
Advertising and marketing expense				84,800,000	83,600,000	78,800,000
Co-op advertising allowances				7,600,000	4,800,000	4,100,000
Co-op advertising expense				9,400,000	10,000,000	8,400,000
Deferred advertising costs			3,700,000	$ 3,700,000	4,000,000			$ 3,700,000
More likely than not, percentage				50.00%
Corporate tax rate - prior to Jan 1 2018									35.00%
Corporate tax rate - effective Jan 1 2018								21.00%
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Annual Vesting Percentage				25.00%
Income Taxes Paid, Net				$ 21,300,000	18,700,000	16,900,000
Interest Paid				17,400,000	16,500,000	15,200,000
Change in Investing Activities Included in Liabilities				10,700,000	1,900,000	(8,300,000)
Cumulative-effect adjustment to Rewards program liability	$ 6,400,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross			93,058,000	93,058,000	91,428,000			$ 93,058,000
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Tax					441,000
Defined benefit plan, net periodic benefit income excluding service cost					12,300,000	15,000,000
Non-service cost component of net periodic benefit income				12,300,000
Interest Costs Capitalized				200,000	0	1,400,000
Warehousing and Distribution Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling and administrative expenses				106,900,000	89,700,000	77,700,000
Overseas Sourcing Offices and Other Inventory Procurement Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Selling and administrative expenses				22,100,000	23,100,000	$ 21,500,000
Software Development and Acquisition Costs
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Other assets			16,400,000	16,400,000	22,300,000			16,400,000
Accumulated amortization			131,800,000	$ 131,800,000	$ 123,000,000			131,800,000
Retail
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales Revenue Goods Net Percentage During Period				65.00%	69.00%	67.00%
Famous Footwear Rewards Program Members
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Sales Revenue Goods Net Percentage During Period				76.00%	75.00%
Rewards program liability			14,600,000	$ 14,600,000	$ 8,100,000			$ 14,600,000
Minimum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Rent holiday, number of days				30 days
Maximum
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Rent holiday, number of days				60 days
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability		$ 700,000,000
Operating Lease, Liability		$ 800,000,000
Restructuring and other special charges, net | Other
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cost-method Investments, Realized Losses						$ 7,000,000
Selling and administrative expenses
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Asset Impairment Charges				$ 3,700,000	3,800,000	1,600,000
Allen Edmonds
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss			$ 38,000,000	$ 38,000,000
Caleres, Inc.
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Joint Venture, Ownership Percentage				51.00%
C. Banner International Holdings Limited
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Joint Venture, Ownership Percentage				49.00%
Allen Edmonds
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets, Indefinite-lived (Excluding Goodwill)				$ 60,000,000
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings	4,800,000
Cumulative-effect adjustment to Rewards program liability	6,400,000
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross	1,600,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings	10,500,000
Other Current Assets [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Tax	5,400,000
Other liabilities | Accounting Standards Update 2016-16 [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Tax	$ 5,100,000
Customer allowances
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Additions for Charges to Cost and Expense				$ 54,161,000	$ 51,135,000	$ 45,186,000