Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Earnings (Loss) Per Share [Abstract]
Net earnings from continuing operations	$ 13,621	$ 1,813	$ 20,980	$ 5,835
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	74	179	144	246
Net earnings allocated to participating securities	(580)		(266)
Net earnings from continuing operations	13,115	1,992	20,858	6,081
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	1,662	(4,527)	(16,529)	(6,921)
Net earnings allocated to participating securities	(71)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	1,591	(4,527)	(16,529)	(6,921)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities	$ 14,706	$ (2,535)	$ 4,329	$ (840)
Denominator for basic continuing and discontinued earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	41,348,000	40,687,000	41,209,000	40,555,000
Dilutive effect of share-based awards for continuing operations and discontinued operations	316,000	88,000	267,000	223,000
Denominator for diluted continuing and discontinued earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	41,664,000	40,775,000	41,476,000	40,778,000
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: From continuing operations	$ 0.32	$ 0.05	$ 0.51	$ 0.15
Basic earnings (loss) per common share: From discontinued operations	$ 0.04	$ (0.11)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.17)
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.36	$ (0.06)	$ 0.11	$ (0.02)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: From continuing operations	$ 0.31	$ 0.05	$ 0.50	$ 0.15
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: From discontinued operations	$ 0.04	$ (0.11)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.17)
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.35	$ (0.06)	$ 0.10	$ (0.02)
Options to purchase common stock, not included in computation of diluted earnings per common share	134,247	1,147,160	224,153	1,251,131

Discontinued operations earnings allocated to participating securities.

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Income loss from continuing operations net of tax after participating securities.

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Net income loss attributable to parent after allocation of earnings to participating securities.

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Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) from continuing operations per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount of income (loss) from a disposal group, net of income tax before extraordinary items allocable to noncontrolling interests. Includes, net of tax, income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Per basic share amount, after tax, of income (loss) from the day-to-day business activities of the discontinued operation and gain (loss) from the disposal of the discontinued operation.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Earnings allocated (not distributed) to participating securities under the two-class method to the extent that participating securities may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

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