Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	May 04, 2019	May 05, 2018
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 677,754	$ 632,142
Cost of goods sold	397,918	357,221
Gross profit	279,836	274,921
Selling and administrative expenses	262,111	250,197
Restructuring and other special charges, net	856	1,778
Operating earnings (loss)	16,869	22,946
Interest (expense) income	(7,340)	(3,683)
Other income (expense)	2,619	3,091
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	12,148	22,354
Income tax provision	(3,063)	(5,174)
Net earnings	9,085	17,180
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(32)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	9,083	17,212
Comprehensive income	8,825	16,285
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	(40)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	8,811	16,325
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	191,404	199,260
Cost of goods sold	129,259	134,594
Gross profit	62,145	64,666
Selling and administrative expenses	55,941	66,342
Restructuring and other special charges, net	856	525
Operating earnings (loss)	5,348	(2,201)
Interest (expense) income	(7,339)	(3,819)
Other income (expense)	2,637	3,120
Intercompany interest income (expense)	2,841	2,768
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	3,487	(132)
Income tax provision	(1,312)	(952)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	6,908	18,296
Net earnings	9,083	17,212
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	9,083	17,212
Comprehensive income	8,811	16,325
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	8,811	16,325
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	488,321	445,695
Cost of goods sold	289,541	247,799
Gross profit	198,780	197,896
Selling and administrative expenses	194,585	177,886
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	1,253
Operating earnings (loss)	4,195	18,757
Interest (expense) income	(22)	(12)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,817)	(2,799)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,356	15,946
Income tax provision	(355)	(3,302)
Net earnings	1,001	12,644
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	1,001	12,644
Comprehensive income	923	12,626
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	923	12,626
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	52,426	37,392
Cost of goods sold	27,095	17,867
Gross profit	25,331	19,525
Selling and administrative expenses	18,005	13,135
Operating earnings (loss)	7,326	6,390
Interest (expense) income	21	148
Other income (expense)	(18)	(29)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(24)	31
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	7,305	6,540
Income tax provision	(1,396)	(920)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(538)	(478)
Net earnings	5,371	5,142
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(32)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	5,369	5,174
Comprehensive income	4,570	4,995
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	14	(40)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	4,556	5,035
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(54,397)	(50,205)
Cost of goods sold	(47,977)	(43,039)
Gross profit	(6,420)	(7,166)
Selling and administrative expenses	(6,420)	(7,166)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(6,370)	(17,818)
Net earnings	(6,370)	(17,818)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(6,370)	(17,818)
Comprehensive income	(5,479)	(17,661)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (5,479)	$ (17,661)