Long-Term Debt (Details Textual) $ in Thousands, CAD in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	Oct. 31, 2015 CAD	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Repayments of principal in next twelve months	$ 7,800
Repayments of principal in year two	15,400
Repayments of principal in year three	3,500
Repayments of principal in year four	150,800
Repayments of principal in year five	37,600
Long-term debt	215,128			$ 29,155
U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	148,800
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	148,845			0
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | Genesco UK Limited
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	15,400	£ 10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	8,400		CAD 11.0
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	27,015			0
Line of Credit | UK Term Loans
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	39,268			$ 29,155
Letter of Credit
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 13,500
UK Credit Facility
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Minimum interest coverage covenant	4.50
Current maximum leverage covenant	2.25
Declining maximum leverage covenant	1.75
Minimum cash flow coverage	1.00
UK Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 27,015
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan A | Schuh Group
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity | £		17,500,000.0
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan A | Schuh Group | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.80%
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan B | Schuh Group
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity | £		11,600,000.0
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan B | Schuh Group | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan C | Schuh Group
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity | £		22,500,000.0
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Term Loan C | Schuh Group | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.20%
UK Credit Facility | Line of Credit | Working Capital Facility | Schuh Group
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Maximum borrowing capacity | £		£ 2,500,000.0