Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2016	Jul. 29, 2017	Jul. 30, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 676,954	$ 622,937	$ 1,308,463	$ 1,207,670
Cost of goods sold	389,493	363,382	750,094	700,322
Gross profit	287,461	259,555	558,369	507,348
Selling and administrative expenses	253,500	227,297	497,575	446,347
Restructuring and other special charges, net	2,865	0	3,973	0
Operating earnings (loss)	31,096	32,258	56,821	61,001
Interest expense	(4,637)	(3,479)	(9,681)	(7,089)
Interest income	262	310	497	557
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	26,721	29,089	47,637	54,469
Income tax benefit (provision)	(9,047)	(9,410)	(15,079)	(16,912)
Net earnings	17,674	19,679	32,558	37,557
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	79	(89)	61	6
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	17,595	19,768	32,497	37,551
Comprehensive income	19,401	18,358	34,941	38,046
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	99	(120)	76	(10)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	19,302	18,478	34,865	38,056
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	194,305	194,896	388,745	382,083
Cost of goods sold	137,659	142,295	270,510	272,204
Gross profit	56,646	52,601	118,235	109,879
Selling and administrative expenses	60,363	52,841	112,787	102,383
Restructuring and other special charges, net	2,661		3,769
Operating earnings (loss)	(6,378)	(240)	1,679	7,496
Interest expense	(4,634)	(3,481)	(9,669)	(7,089)
Interest income	85	174	173	331
Intercompany interest income (expense)	2,021	2,253	4,104	4,507
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(8,906)	(1,294)	(3,713)	5,245
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,926	(309)	1,839	(1,175)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	23,575	21,371	34,371	33,481
Net earnings	17,595	19,768	32,497	37,551
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	17,595	19,768	32,497	37,551
Comprehensive income	19,302	18,478	34,865	38,056
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	19,302	18,478	34,865	38,056
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	482,645	408,476	910,184	791,522
Cost of goods sold	270,548	221,031	502,334	425,658
Gross profit	212,097	187,445	407,850	365,864
Selling and administrative expenses	190,444	170,463	372,791	327,566
Restructuring and other special charges, net	37		37
Operating earnings (loss)	21,616	16,982	35,022	38,298
Interest expense	(3)	2	(12)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,189)	(2,276)	(4,513)	(4,578)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	19,424	14,708	30,497	33,720
Income tax benefit (provision)	(8,053)	(6,436)	(11,928)	(12,740)
Net earnings	11,371	8,272	18,569	20,980
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,371	8,272	18,569	20,980
Comprehensive income	11,371	8,272	18,569	20,980
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,371	8,272	18,569	20,980
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	63,175	69,798	101,220	108,594
Cost of goods sold	32,543	39,125	51,073	62,019
Gross profit	30,632	30,673	50,147	46,575
Selling and administrative expenses	14,607	15,157	29,860	31,368
Restructuring and other special charges, net	167		167
Operating earnings (loss)	15,858	15,516	20,120	15,207
Interest income	177	136	324	226
Intercompany interest income (expense)	168	23	409	71
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	16,203	15,675	20,853	15,504
Income tax benefit (provision)	(3,920)	(2,665)	(4,990)	(2,997)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	271	(508)	(777)	(1,045)
Net earnings	12,554	12,502	15,086	11,462
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	79	(89)	61	6
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	12,475	12,591	15,025	11,456
Comprehensive income	13,302	11,802	15,755	12,031
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	99	(120)	76	(10)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	13,203	11,922	15,679	12,041
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(63,171)	(50,233)	(91,686)	(74,529)
Cost of goods sold	(51,257)	(39,069)	(73,823)	(59,559)
Gross profit	(11,914)	(11,164)	(17,863)	(14,970)
Selling and administrative expenses	(11,914)	(11,164)	(17,863)	(14,970)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(23,846)	(20,863)	(33,594)	(32,436)
Net earnings	(23,846)	(20,863)	(33,594)	(32,436)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(23,846)	(20,863)	(33,594)	(32,436)
Comprehensive income	(24,574)	(20,194)	(34,248)	(33,021)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (24,574)	$ (20,194)	$ (34,248)	$ (33,021)