Financial Information For The Company And Its Subsidiaries (Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Statement Of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012	Aug. 03, 2013	Jul. 28, 2012
Net sales	$ 621,706	$ 564,897	$ 1,210,362	$ 1,163,076
Cost of goods sold	367,080	337,243	715,720	701,168
Gross profit	254,626	227,654	494,642	461,908
Selling and administrative expenses	231,071	211,706	444,950	423,181
Restructuring and other special charges, net	743	7,326	1,262	17,514
Impairment of intangible assets			4,660
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries
Operating earnings	22,812	8,622	43,770	21,213
Interest expense	(5,192)	(5,645)	(10,913)	(11,681)
Interest income	82	77	150	160
Intercompany interest income (expense)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	17,702	3,054	33,007	9,692
Income tax benefit (provision)	(4,081)	(1,241)	(12,027)	(3,857)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	13,621	1,813	20,980	5,835
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax	620	(4,527)	(5,017)	(6,921)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations	1,042		(11,512)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	1,662	(4,527)	(16,529)	(6,921)
Net earnings (loss)	15,283	(2,714)	4,451	(1,086)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(74)	(179)	(144)	(246)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,357	(2,535)	4,595	(840)
Comprehensive (loss) income	15,031	(4,188)	3,540	(1,964)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(61)	(185)	(89)	(250)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,092	(4,003)	3,629	(1,714)
Parent [Member]
Net sales	180,153	154,463	338,934	336,307
Cost of goods sold	138,906	121,376	255,236	259,440
Gross profit	41,247	33,087	83,698	76,867
Selling and administrative expenses	65,770	43,749	115,770	82,959
Restructuring and other special charges, net	167	4,612	686	8,274
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(36,429)	(13,900)	(39,474)	(15,169)
Operating earnings	11,739	(1,374)	6,716	803
Interest expense	(5,192)	(5,559)	(10,822)	(11,499)
Interest income	10		13
Intercompany interest income (expense)	3,475	3,120	6,929	6,529
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	10,032	(3,813)	2,836	(4,167)
Income tax benefit (provision)	4,259	4,701	7,641	7,207
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	14,291	888	10,477	3,040
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1,066	(3,423)	(5,882)	(3,880)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	1,066	(3,423)	(5,882)	(3,880)
Net earnings (loss)	15,357	(2,535)	4,595	(840)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,357	(2,535)	4,595	(840)
Comprehensive (loss) income	15,105	(3,083)	3,684	(1,420)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	15,105	(3,083)	3,684	(1,420)
Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	444,821	416,187	863,359	834,596
Cost of goods sold	241,656	230,633	471,612	464,609
Gross profit	203,165	185,554	391,747	369,987
Selling and administrative expenses	165,689	166,521	325,541	329,553
Restructuring and other special charges, net	576	2,714	576	9,240
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(12,043)	(6,601)	1,061	(2,842)
Operating earnings	48,943	22,920	64,569	34,036
Interest expense		(86)	(91)	(182)
Interest income	68	63	132	124
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(3,607)	(3,227)	(7,186)	(6,742)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	45,404	19,670	57,424	27,236
Income tax benefit (provision)	(9,607)	(5,183)	(20,173)	(9,901)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	35,797	14,487	37,251	17,335
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(410)	(587)	1,181	(2,166)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations	1,042		1,042
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	632	(587)	2,223	(2,166)
Net earnings (loss)	36,429	13,900	39,474	15,169
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	36,429	13,900	39,474	15,169
Comprehensive (loss) income	35,969	12,969	38,457	14,867
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	35,969	12,969	38,457	14,867
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Net sales	57,468	47,146	100,072	90,968
Cost of goods sold	47,254	38,133	80,875	75,914
Gross profit	10,214	9,013	19,197	15,054
Selling and administrative expenses	(388)	1,436	3,639	10,669
Restructuring and other special charges, net
Impairment of intangible assets			4,660
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries
Operating earnings	10,602	7,577	10,898	4,385
Interest expense
Interest income	4	14	5	36
Intercompany interest income (expense)	132	107	257	213
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	10,738	7,698	11,160	4,634
Income tax benefit (provision)	1,267	(759)	505	(1,163)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	12,005	6,939	11,665	3,471
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(36)	(517)	(316)	(875)
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations			(12,554)
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(36)	(517)	(12,870)	(875)
Net earnings (loss)	11,969	6,422	(1,205)	2,596
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(74)	(179)	(144)	(246)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	12,043	6,601	(1,061)	2,842
Comprehensive (loss) income	11,969	6,427	(1,205)	2,600
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(61)	(185)	(89)	(250)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	12,030	6,612	(1,116)	2,850
Eliminations [Member]
Net sales	(60,736)	(52,899)	(92,003)	(98,795)
Cost of goods sold	(60,736)	(52,899)	(92,003)	(98,795)
Gross profit
Selling and administrative expenses
Restructuring and other special charges, net
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	48,472	20,501	38,413	18,011
Operating earnings	(48,472)	(20,501)	(38,413)	(18,011)
Interest expense
Interest income
Intercompany interest income (expense)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations	(48,472)	(20,501)	(38,413)	(18,011)
Income tax benefit (provision)
Net (loss) earnings from continuing operations	(48,472)	(20,501)	(38,413)	(18,011)
Loss (earnings) from discontinued operations, net of tax
Impairment of net assets/disposition of discontinued operations
Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations
Net earnings (loss)	(48,472)	(20,501)	(38,413)	(18,011)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	(48,472)	(20,501)	(38,413)	(18,011)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(48,012)	(20,501)	(37,396)	(18,011)
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Brown Shoe Company, Inc.	$ (48,012)	$ (20,501)	$ (37,396)	$ (18,011)