Note 4 - Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Schedule of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Feb. 01, 2020		Nov. 02, 2019		Aug. 03, 2019		May 04, 2019		Feb. 02, 2019		Nov. 03, 2018		Aug. 04, 2018		May 05, 2018		Feb. 01, 2020	Feb. 02, 2019	Feb. 03, 2018
Net earnings (loss)																	$ 62,082	$ (5,481)	$ 87,231
Net loss (earnings) attributable to noncontrolling interests																	737	40	(31)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ 408	[1]	$ 27,987	[1]	$ 25,341	[1]	$ 9,083	[1]	$ (75,452)	[1]	$ 29,153	[1]	$ 23,646	[1]	$ 17,212	[1]	62,819	(5,441)	87,200
Net earnings allocated to participating securities																	(1,988)	0	(2,384)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities																	$ 60,831	$ (5,441)	$ 84,816
Denominator for basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (in shares)																	39,796	41,756	41,801
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)																	57	0	179
Denominator for diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (in shares)																	39,853	41,756	41,980
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	[2]	$ 0.69	[2]	$ 0.61	[2]	$ 0.22	[2]	$ (1.83)	[2]	$ 0.68	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 1.53	$ (0.13)	$ 2.03
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	[2]	$ 0.69	[2]	$ 0.61	[2]	$ 0.22	[2]	$ (1.83)	[2]	$ 0.67	[2]	$ 0.55	[2]	$ 0.40	[2]	$ 1.53	$ (0.13)	$ 2.02

[1] The fourth quarter of 2019 reflects expense containment initiatives of $11.2 million on an after-tax basis and costs associated with the repositioning of the Via Spiga brand of $1.2 million on an after-tax basis, both of which are further described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, as well as the fair value adjustment to the Blowfish purchase obligation of $1.1 million on an after-tax basis, as further described in Note 2 and Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

[2] EPS for the quarters may not sum to the annual amount as each period is computed on a discrete period basis.