Financial Information for the Company and its Subsidiaries (Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016	Oct. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 774,656	$ 732,230	$ 2,083,119	$ 1,939,900
Cost of goods sold	457,771	438,459	1,207,865	1,138,781
Gross profit	316,885	293,771	875,254	801,119
Selling and administrative expenses	264,015	238,319	761,590	684,666
Restructuring and other special charges, net	0	0	3,973	0
Operating earnings (loss)	52,870	55,452	109,691	116,453
Interest expense	(4,141)	(3,475)	(13,822)	(10,564)
Interest income	95	350	592	907
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	48,824	52,327	96,461	106,796
Income tax benefit (provision)	(14,451)	(17,601)	(29,530)	(34,514)
Net earnings	34,373	34,726	66,931	72,282
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	(4)	47	2
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	34,387	34,730	66,884	72,280
Comprehensive income	34,302	33,791	69,243	71,836
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(25)	73	(35)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	34,305	33,816	69,170	71,871
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	226,019	235,094	614,764	617,177
Cost of goods sold	152,714	162,629	423,224	434,833
Gross profit	73,305	72,465	191,540	182,344
Selling and administrative expenses	59,335	53,225	172,122	155,608
Restructuring and other special charges, net			3,769
Operating earnings (loss)	13,970	19,240	15,649	26,736
Interest expense	(4,140)	(3,472)	(13,809)	(10,561)
Interest income	47	200	220	531
Intercompany interest income (expense)	1,981	2,083	6,085	6,590
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	11,858	18,051	8,145	23,296
Income tax benefit (provision)	(3,963)	(6,193)	(2,124)	(7,369)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	26,492	22,872	60,863	56,353
Net earnings	34,387	34,730	66,884	72,280
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	34,387	34,730	66,884	72,280
Comprehensive income	34,305	33,816	69,170	71,871
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	34,305	33,816	69,170	71,871
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	541,007	487,558	1,451,191	1,279,080
Cost of goods sold	313,646	281,926	815,980	707,584
Gross profit	227,361	205,632	635,211	571,496
Selling and administrative expenses	197,481	177,466	570,272	505,032
Restructuring and other special charges, net			37
Operating earnings (loss)	29,880	28,166	64,902	66,464
Interest expense	(1)	(3)	(13)	(3)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,003)	(2,107)	(6,516)	(6,685)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	27,876	26,056	58,373	59,776
Income tax benefit (provision)	(9,479)	(9,743)	(21,407)	(22,483)
Net earnings	18,397	16,313	36,966	37,293
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	18,397	16,313	36,966	37,293
Comprehensive income	18,397	16,313	36,966	37,293
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	18,397	16,313	36,966	37,293
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	47,765	48,055	148,985	156,649
Cost of goods sold	23,351	25,669	74,424	87,688
Gross profit	24,414	22,386	74,561	68,961
Selling and administrative expenses	15,394	14,340	45,254	45,708
Restructuring and other special charges, net			167
Operating earnings (loss)	9,020	8,046	29,140	23,253
Interest income	48	150	372	376
Intercompany interest income (expense)	22	24	431	95
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	9,090	8,220	29,943	23,724
Income tax benefit (provision)	(1,009)	(1,665)	(5,999)	(4,662)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(457)	(499)	(1,234)	(1,545)
Net earnings	7,624	6,056	22,710	17,517
Less: Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(14)	(4)	47	2
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	7,638	6,060	22,663	17,515
Comprehensive income	7,457	5,661	23,212	17,692
Less: Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3)	(25)	73	(35)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	7,460	5,686	23,139	17,727
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(40,135)	(38,477)	(131,821)	(113,006)
Cost of goods sold	(31,940)	(31,765)	(105,763)	(91,324)
Gross profit	(8,195)	(6,712)	(26,058)	(21,682)
Selling and administrative expenses	(8,195)	(6,712)	(26,058)	(21,682)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(26,035)	(22,373)	(59,629)	(54,808)
Net earnings	(26,035)	(22,373)	(59,629)	(54,808)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(26,035)	(22,373)	(59,629)	(54,808)
Comprehensive income	(25,857)	(21,999)	(60,105)	(55,020)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (25,857)	$ (21,999)	$ (60,105)	$ (55,020)