Long-Term Debt - Textuals (Details) CAD in Millions	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2015 GBP (£)	Jan. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2016 GBP (£)	Jan. 30, 2016 CAD	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt maturing in year one		$ 14,200,000
Long-term debt maturing in year two		3,200,000
Long-term debt maturing in year three		60,100,000
Long-term debt maturing in year four		34,600,000
Long-term debt maturing in year five		0
Long-term debt		112,058,000			$ 29,155,000
Revolver borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 58,300,000
UK Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest coverage covenant minimum level	4.50
Interest coverage covenant maximum level	2.25
Interest Coverage Covenant, Declining Balance, Maximum Level	1.75
Cash flow coverage covenant minimum level	1.00
Revolving Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Commitment fee on the actual daily unused portions of the credit facility one		0.25%
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolver borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 58,344,000			0
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolver borrowings | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		36,200,000		CAD 51.0
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolver borrowings | Genesco Uk Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		22,100,000	£ 15,600,000
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 24,818,000			0
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Prime rate description		Canadian Prime Rate (defined as the highest of the (i) Bank of America Canadian Prime Rate, (ii) 0.50% plus the Bank of America (Canadian) overnight rate, and (iii) 1.0% plus the BA rate for a 30 day interest period) plus the applicable margin for loans made in U.S. dollars, LIBOR plus the applicable margin or the U.S. Index Rate (defined as the highest of the (i) Bank of America (Canada branch) U.S. dollar base rate, (ii) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%, and (iii) LIBOR for an interest period of thirty days plus 1.0%) plus the applicable margin
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility | Canadian Overnight Rate, Bank of America
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility | Bankers Acceptances Rate, 30-Day BA Rate
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Initial applicable margin for base rate loans and U.S. Index rate loans		0.50%
Initial applicable margin for LIBOR loans and BA equivalent loans		1.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), 30-Day LIBOR
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Amended Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility						$ 375,000,000.0
Capitalized deferred financing costs of credit facility and amendment		$ 1,500,000
Amortization period of deferred financing costs for credit facility and amendment		5 years
Excess availability under credit facility		$ 279,300,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		400,000,000.0
Increase in availability under credit facility		$ 150,000,000
Components of borrowing base		90% of eligible inventory plus 85% of eligible wholesale receivables (50% of eligible wholesale receivables of the Lids Team Sports business) plus 90% of eligible credit card and debit card receivables less applicable reserves
Borrowing base based upon percentage of eligible inventory		90.00%
Borrowing base based upon percentage of eligible wholesale receivables		85.00%
Borrowing base percentage of eligible credit card and debit card receivables less applicable reserves		90.00%
Applicable margin plus higher of condition one		Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%
Applicable margin plus higher of condition two		LIBOR for an interest period of thirty days plus 1.0%
Commitment fee on the actual daily unused portions of the credit facility condition one		0.50% per annum if less than 50% of the Credit Facility has been utilized
Commitment fee on the actual daily unused portions of the credit facility condition two		0.375% per annum if 50% or more of the Credit Facility has been utilized
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold		$ 25,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage		10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (not less than)		1.0	1.0	1.0
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (description)		not less than 1.0:1.0
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio		1	1	1
Amended amount on senior debt covenant		$ 500,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold for cash dominion		$ 30,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage for cash dominion		12.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Genesco Uk Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility		$ 50,000,000
Aggregate amount of loans and letters of credit subject to receipt of commitment		$ 600,000,000
Borrowing base percentage as maximum from loan cap		30.00%
Percentage of shares pledged by company		65.00%	65.00%	65.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility		$ 85,000,000
Aggregate amount of loans and letters of credit subject to receipt of commitment		550,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Canadian Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		70,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Swingline Loan | Genesco Uk Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Swingline Loan | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		40,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Standby Letters of Credit
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		70,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | UK Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		50,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Genesco Uk Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility		5,000,000.0
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		24,818,000	£ 17,500,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Revolver borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Capitalized deferred financing costs of credit facility and amendment		$ 1,600,000
Amortization period of deferred financing costs for credit facility and amendment		5 years
Line of Credit | UK Term Loans
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 28,896,000	£ 20,400,000		$ 29,155,000
Line of Credit | Letter of Credit
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt		$ 13,500,000
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan A | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £	£ 17,500,000.0
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan A | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.80%
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan B | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £	£ 11,600,000.0
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan B | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.50%
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Working Capital Facility | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £	£ 2,500,000.0
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan C | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £	£ 22,500,000.0
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan C | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	2.20%