Note 18 - Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Earnings (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	May 02, 2020	May 04, 2019
Net sales	$ 397,184	$ 677,754
Cost of goods sold	275,286	397,918
Gross profit	121,898	279,836
Selling and administrative expenses	225,194	262,111
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	262,719	0
Restructuring and other special charges, net	60,196	856
Operating earnings (loss)	(426,211)	16,869
Interest (expense) income	9,478	7,340
Other income, net	(3,585)	(2,619)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	0	0
Loss before income taxes	(432,104)	12,148
Income tax benefit (provision)	85,932	(3,063)
Equity in loss of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Net (loss) earnings	(346,172)	9,085
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(334)	2
Net loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(345,838)	9,083
Comprehensive loss	(347,564)	8,825
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(353)	14
Comprehensive loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(347,211)	8,811
(Loss) earnings before income taxes	(432,104)	12,148
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(29,010)	(54,397)
Cost of goods sold	(24,920)	(47,977)
Gross profit	(4,090)	(6,420)
Selling and administrative expenses	(4,090)	(6,420)
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	0	0
Interest (expense) income	0	0
Other income, net	0	0
Intercompany interest income (expense)	0	0
Loss before income taxes	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0
Equity in loss of subsidiaries, net of tax	276,587	(6,370)
Net (loss) earnings	276,587	(6,370)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	276,587	(6,370)
Comprehensive loss	278,490	(5,479)
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	278,490	(5,479)
(Loss) earnings before income taxes		0
Parent Company [Member]
Net sales	118,153	191,404
Cost of goods sold	106,051	129,259
Gross profit	12,102	62,145
Selling and administrative expenses	49,116	55,941
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	24,154
Restructuring and other special charges, net	23,139	856
Operating earnings (loss)	(84,307)	5,348
Interest (expense) income	9,474	7,339
Other income, net	(3,540)	(2,637)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,463)	(2,841)
Loss before income taxes	(87,778)
Income tax benefit (provision)	18,031	(1,312)
Equity in loss of subsidiaries, net of tax	(276,091)	6,908
Net (loss) earnings	(345,838)	9,083
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(345,838)	9,083
Comprehensive loss	(347,211)	8,811
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(347,211)	8,811
(Loss) earnings before income taxes		3,487
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	268,253	488,321
Cost of goods sold	172,154	289,541
Gross profit	96,099	198,780
Selling and administrative expenses	112,040	194,585
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	238,565
Restructuring and other special charges, net	37,057	0
Operating earnings (loss)	(291,563)	4,195
Interest (expense) income	20	22
Other income, net	0	0
Intercompany interest income (expense)	2,523	2,817
Loss before income taxes	(294,106)
Income tax benefit (provision)	68,485	(355)
Equity in loss of subsidiaries, net of tax	0	0
Net (loss) earnings	(225,621)	1,001
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(225,621)	1,001
Comprehensive loss	(226,031)	923
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(226,031)	923
(Loss) earnings before income taxes		1,356
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net sales	39,788	52,426
Cost of goods sold	22,001	27,095
Gross profit	17,787	25,331
Selling and administrative expenses	68,128	18,005
Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets	0
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	0
Operating earnings (loss)	(50,341)	7,326
Interest (expense) income	(16)	(21)
Other income, net	(45)	18
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(60)	24
Loss before income taxes	(50,220)
Income tax benefit (provision)	(584)	(1,396)
Equity in loss of subsidiaries, net of tax	(496)	(538)
Net (loss) earnings	(51,300)	5,371
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(334)	2
Net loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(50,966)	5,369
Comprehensive loss	(52,812)	4,570
Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(353)	14
Comprehensive loss attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (52,459)	4,556
(Loss) earnings before income taxes		$ 7,305