Document and Entity Information (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 30, 2011	Sep. 02, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GENESCO INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018498
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jul. 30, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--01-28
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 656,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,180,553