Document and Entity Information (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 02, 2013	Mar. 15, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GENESCO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018498
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Feb. 02, 2013
Amendment Flag	true
Amendment Description	The Company has reviewed its accounting treatment for expensing of retained bonus amounts. Under the Company's EVA Incentive Plan, bonus awards in excess of a specified cap in any year are retained and paid out over the three subsequent years, subject to reduction or elimination by deteriorating financial performance or subject to forfeiture if the participant voluntarily resigns from employment with the Company or is terminated for cause before the retained amount is paid. Historically, the Company has expensed the full amount of the retained bonus in the year in which it was determined. As a result of the review of this treatment, the Company has determined the retained bonus should be expensed across the three-year service period rather than fully expensed in the year it is determined. As a result, the Company is filing this amendment to its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2013, to amend and restate the financial statements and other financial information contained herein to correct the errors. In addition, concurrently with the filing of this amendment, the Company is filing an amendment to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended May 4, 2013 in connection with the restatement of its financial statements for the first quarter of Fiscal 2014.
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--02-02
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 1,587,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,010,616