Consolidated Statements Of Earnings - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2015	May. 02, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Nov. 01, 2014	Aug. 02, 2014	May. 03, 2014	Aug. 03, 2013	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 608,674	$ 728,639	$ 637,834	$ 602,283	$ 615,393	$ 729,277	$ 635,877	$ 591,162		$ 2,577,430	$ 2,571,709	$ 2,513,113
Cost of goods sold										1,529,627	1,531,609	1,498,825
Gross profit	248,048	288,434	262,795	248,526	247,387	290,730	259,642	242,341		1,047,803	1,040,100	1,014,288
Selling and administrative expenses										912,696	910,682	909,749
Restructuring and other special charges, net										0	3,484	1,262
Impairment of assets held for sale										0	0	4,660
Operating earnings										135,107	125,934	98,617
Interest expense										(16,589)	(20,445)	(21,254)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt										(10,651)	(420)	0
Interest income										899	379	377
Gain on sale of subsidiary										0	4,679	(576)
Earnings before income taxes from continuing operations										108,766	110,127	77,740
Income tax provision										(26,942)	(27,184)	(23,758)
Net earnings from continuing operations										81,824	82,943	53,982
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax of $5,922 in 2013										0	0	(4,574)
Disposition/impairment of discontinued operations, net of tax of $0 in 2013									$ (600)	0	0	(11,512)
Net loss from discontinued operations										0	0	(16,086)
Net earnings	11,578	33,992	16,863	19,391	16,191	33,237	18,039	15,476		81,824	82,943	37,896
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests										345	93	(177)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ 11,410	$ 33,983	$ 16,825	$ 19,261	$ 16,244	$ 33,113	$ 18,064	$ 15,429		$ 81,479	$ 82,850	$ 38,073
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations										$ 1.86	$ 1.90	$ 1.25
From discontinued operations										0.00	0.00	(0.37)
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 0.37	$ 0.76	$ 0.41	$ 0.35		1.86	1.90	0.88
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
From continuing operations										1.85	1.89	1.25
From discontinued operations										0.00	0.00	(0.37)
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 0.37	$ 0.75	$ 0.41	$ 0.35		$ 1.85	$ 1.89	$ 0.88