Earnings (Loss) Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ 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	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015	Feb. 01, 2014	Feb. 02, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,578	$ 33,992	$ 16,863	$ 19,391	$ 16,191	$ 33,237	$ 18,039	$ 15,476	$ 81,824	$ 82,943	$ 37,896
NUMERATOR
Net earnings from continuing operations									81,824	82,943	53,982
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(345)	(93)	177
Net earnings allocated to participating securities									(2,587)	(3,068)	(2,304)
Net earnings from continuing operations									78,892	79,782	51,855
Net loss from discontinued operations									0	0	(16,086)
Net loss allocated to participating securities									0	0	687
Net loss from discontinued operations									0	0	(15,399)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc. after allocation of earnings to participating securities									$ 78,892	$ 79,782	$ 36,456
DENOMINATOR
Denominator for basic continuing and discontinued earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders									42,455,000	42,071,000	41,356,000
Dilutive effect of share-based awards for continuing operations and discontinued operations									201,000	203,000	297,000
Denominator for diluted continuing and discontinued earnings per common share attributable to Caleres, Inc. shareholders									42,656,000	42,274,000	41,653,000
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:
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: From continuing operations									1.85	1.89	1.25
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share: 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
Options to purchase common stock, not included in computation of diluted earnings per common share										56,997	64,497	86,247