Quarterly Financial Data (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016	Jul. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2016	Jan. 30, 2016	Oct. 31, 2015	Aug. 01, 2015	May 02, 2015	Jan. 28, 2017	Jan. 30, 2016	Jan. 31, 2015
Net sales	$ 639,488	$ 732,230	$ 622,937	$ 584,733	$ 608,674	$ 728,639	$ 637,834	$ 602,283	$ 2,579,388	$ 2,577,430	$ 2,571,709
Gross profit	260,872	293,771	259,555	247,793	248,048	288,434	262,795	248,526	1,061,991	1,047,803	1,040,100
Net earnings (loss)	(6,196)	34,726	19,679	17,878	11,578	33,992	16,863	19,391	66,086	81,824	82,943
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (6,622)	$ 34,730	$ 19,768	$ 17,782	$ 11,410	$ 33,983	$ 16,825	$ 19,261	$ 65,658	$ 81,479	$ 82,850
Earnings (loss) per share, basic	$ (0.16)	$ 0.81	$ 0.46	$ 0.41	$ 0.26	$ 0.78	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 1.52	$ 1.86	$ 1.90
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted	(0.16)	0.81	0.46	0.41	0.26	0.78	0.38	0.44	1.52	1.85	1.89
Dividends paid	$ 0.07	0.07	0.07	0.07	0.07	0.07	0.07	0.07	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.28
Restructuring and other special charges, net	$ 20,200								$ 23,404	$ 0	$ 3,484
Maximum [Member]
Market value	$ 36.61	26.90	27.30	29.49	31.75	33.73	33.83	33.33	$ 36.61	$ 31.75
Minimum [Member]
Market value	$ 24.14	$ 23.12	$ 21.27	$ 23.89	$ 23.22	$ 27.90	$ 28.91	$ 27.22	$ 24.14	$ 23.22