Long-Term Debt - Textuals (Details) € in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 29, 2017	Nov. 30, 2017	Feb. 02, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 02, 2019 GBP (£)	Feb. 02, 2019 EUR (€)	Feb. 02, 2019 CAD ($)	Feb. 03, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2017 GBP (£)	Jan. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt maturing in year one				$ 9,000,000
Long-term debt maturing in year two				0
Long-term debt maturing in year three				0
Long-term debt maturing in year four				56,800,000
Long-term debt maturing in year five				0
Long-term debt				65,743,000				$ 88,385,000
U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				$ 56,800,000
UK Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest coverage covenant minimum level		4.50
Interest coverage covenant maximum level		1.75
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 | U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				$ 56,773,000				69,372,000
Capitalized deferred financing costs of credit facility and amendment	$ 1,700,000
Capitalized deferred financing costs amortization period	5 years
Write off of deferred financing costs	$ 600,000
Amortization period of deferred financing costs for credit facility and amendment				4 years
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				$ 42,800,000			$ 56.0
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				14,000,000	£ 10.7
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				0				7,594,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Amended Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility										$ 400,000,000.00
Excess availability under credit facility				$ 151,400,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Prime rate description				For loans made in Canadian dollars, (a) the bankers’ acceptances (“BA”) rate (not to be less than zero) plus the applicable margin, or (b) the Canadian Prime Rate (not to be less than zero) (defined as the highest of the (i) Bank of America Canadian Prime Rate, and (ii) the BA rate for a one month interest period 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 | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold				$ 17,500,000.0
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage				10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold for cash dominion				$ 20,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage for cash dominion				12.50%
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 | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility	$ 275,000,000
Increase in availability under credit facility				$ 200,000,000
Components of borrowing base				90% of eligible inventory (increased to 92.5% during fiscal months September through November) plus 85% of eligible wholesale receivables plus 90% of eligible credit card and debit card receivables
Borrowing base based upon percentage of eligible inventory			92.50%	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%
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (description)				not less than 1.0:1.0
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio				1	1	1	1
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility				$ 100,000,000
Aggregate amount of loans and letters of credit subject to receipt of commitment				$ 475,000,000
Borrowing base percentage as maximum from loan cap				50.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility				$ 15,000,000
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 | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Swingline Loan
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility				45,000,000
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				5,000,000
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 | UK Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility				100,000,000
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 | UK Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				0		€ 0.0
Line of Credit | UK Term Loans
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				8,992,000	£ 6.9			$ 11,479,000
Line of Credit | Letter of Credit
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				$ 11,200,000
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan A | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £									£ 1.0
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan B | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £									9.4
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 | £									2.5
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan D | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £									7.2
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan D | EURIBOR | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.20%
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan C | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £									£ 16.5
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%
Minimum | Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (not less than)				1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Maximum | Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (not less than)				5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Amended amount on senior debt covenant				$ 500,000,000