Business Segment Information - Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
May 02, 2015	May 03, 2014	Jan. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	$ 660,597us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet	$ 628,825us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Segment operating income (loss)	18,900gco_SegmentOperatingIncomeLoss	22,607gco_SegmentOperatingIncomeLoss
Asset impairments and other	(2,646)gco_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges	1,111gco_AssetImpairmentAndOtherCharges
Earnings from operations	16,254us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	23,718us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense	(660)us-gaap_InterestExpense	(733)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest income	15us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest	32us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterest
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	15,609	23,017
Total assets	1,616,068us-gaap_Assets	1,482,907us-gaap_Assets	1,583,087us-gaap_Assets
Depreciation and amortization	19,493	17,360
Capital expenditures	24,400	19,810
Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	661,027	629,117
Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	(430)	(292)
Journeys Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	278,632	262,123
Segment operating income (loss)	24,422	19,677
Asset impairments and other	0	0
Earnings from operations	24,422	19,677
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	24,422	19,677
Total assets	317,770	295,135
Depreciation and amortization	5,460	4,761
Capital expenditures	6,979	5,870
Journeys Group \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	278,632	262,123
Journeys Group \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	0	0
Schuh Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	78,562	81,276
Segment operating income (loss)	(2,661)	(5,141)
Asset impairments and other	0	0
Earnings from operations	(2,661)	(5,141)
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(2,661)	(5,141)
Total assets	260,213	277,226
Depreciation and amortization	3,513	3,506
Capital expenditures	1,724	4,834
Schuh Group \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	78,562	81,276
Schuh Group \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	0	0
Lids Sports Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	206,329	189,266
Segment operating income (loss)	(3,397)	8,137
Asset impairments and other	0	0
Earnings from operations	(3,397)	8,137
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(3,397)	8,137
Total assets	675,325	593,075
Depreciation and amortization	7,718	7,082
Capital expenditures	10,789	5,089
Lids Sports Group \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	206,590	189,335
Lids Sports Group \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	(261)	(69)
Johnston & Murphy Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	66,362	63,397
Segment operating income (loss)	3,977	4,496
Asset impairments and other	0	0
Earnings from operations	3,977	4,496
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	3,977	4,496
Total assets	111,067	99,062
Depreciation and amortization	1,365	1,081
Capital expenditures	2,740	2,536
Johnston & Murphy Group \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	66,362	63,397
Johnston & Murphy Group \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	0	0
Licensed Brands
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	30,577	32,462
Segment operating income (loss)	3,023	3,521
Asset impairments and other	0	0
Earnings from operations	3,023	3,521
Interest expense	0	0
Interest income	0	0
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	3,023	3,521
Total assets	41,455	48,920
Depreciation and amortization	215	132
Capital expenditures	134	246
Licensed Brands \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	30,746	32,685
Licensed Brands \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	(169)	(223)
Corporate & Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	135	301
Segment operating income (loss)	(6,464)	(8,083)
Asset impairments and other	(2,646)	1,111
Earnings from operations	(9,110)	(6,972)
Interest expense	(660)	(733)
Interest income	15	32
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	(9,755)	(7,673)
Total assets	210,238	169,489
Depreciation and amortization	1,222	798
Capital expenditures	2,034	1,235
Corporate & Other \| Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	135	301
Corporate & Other \| Intercompany Sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales to external customers	$ 0	$ 0

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