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
	Nov. 03, 2018	Oct. 28, 2017	Nov. 03, 2018	Oct. 28, 2017
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 775,829	$ 774,656	$ 2,114,583	$ 2,083,119
Cost of goods sold	465,219	457,771	1,235,950	1,207,865
Gross profit	310,610	316,885	878,633	875,254
Selling and administrative expenses	265,522	266,507	774,555	769,188
Restructuring and other special charges, net	5,340	0	9,240	3,973
Operating earnings (loss)	39,748	50,378	94,838	102,093
Interest (expense) income	(4,210)	(4,046)	(11,495)	(13,230)
Other income (expense)	3,085	2,492	9,254	7,598
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	38,623	48,824	92,597	96,461
Income tax (benefit) provision	(9,468)	(14,451)	(22,651)	(29,530)
Net earnings	29,155	34,373	69,946	66,931
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(14)	(65)	47
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	29,153	34,387	70,011	66,884
Comprehensive income	29,300	34,302	68,492	69,243
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9)	(3)	(141)	73
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	29,309	34,305	68,633	69,170
Parent [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	240,295	226,019	651,807	614,764
Cost of goods sold	163,609	152,714	448,832	423,224
Gross profit	76,686	73,305	202,975	191,540
Selling and administrative expenses	64,766	61,827	204,696	179,720
Restructuring and other special charges, net	4,831		5,679	3,769
Operating earnings (loss)	7,089	11,478	(7,400)	8,051
Interest (expense) income	(4,484)	(4,093)	(12,108)	(13,589)
Other income (expense)	3,101	2,492	9,305	7,598
Intercompany interest income (expense)	2,976	1,981	8,617	6,085
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	8,682	11,858	(1,586)	8,145
Income tax (benefit) provision	(3,012)	(3,963)	(2,065)	(2,124)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	23,483	26,492	73,662	60,863
Net earnings	29,153	34,387	70,011	66,884
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	29,153	34,387	70,011	66,884
Comprehensive income	29,309	34,305	68,633	69,170
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	29,309	34,305	68,633	69,170
Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	540,379	541,007	1,487,877	1,451,191
Cost of goods sold	325,966	313,646	862,345	815,980
Gross profit	214,413	227,361	625,532	635,211
Selling and administrative expenses	195,318	197,481	558,714	570,272
Restructuring and other special charges, net	509		3,561	37
Operating earnings (loss)	18,586	29,880	63,257	64,902
Interest (expense) income		(1)	(25)	(13)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(2,951)	(2,003)	(8,650)	(6,516)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	15,635	27,876	54,582	58,373
Income tax (benefit) provision	(4,122)	(9,479)	(14,257)	(21,407)
Net earnings	11,513	18,397	40,325	36,966
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,513	18,397	40,325	36,966
Comprehensive income	11,451	18,397	40,235	36,966
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,451	18,397	40,235	36,966
Non-Guarantors [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	62,672	47,765	164,829	148,985
Cost of goods sold	32,262	23,351	83,538	74,424
Gross profit	30,410	24,414	81,291	74,561
Selling and administrative expenses	16,337	15,394	42,310	45,254
Restructuring and other special charges, net				167
Operating earnings (loss)	14,073	9,020	38,981	29,140
Interest (expense) income	274	48	638	372
Other income (expense)	(16)		(51)
Intercompany interest income (expense)	(25)	22	33	431
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	14,306	9,090	39,601	29,943
Income tax (benefit) provision	(2,334)	(1,009)	(6,329)	(5,999)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(662)	(457)	(1,256)	(1,234)
Net earnings	11,310	7,624	32,016	22,710
Net (loss) earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	2	(14)	(65)	47
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,308	7,638	32,081	22,663
Comprehensive income	11,362	7,457	31,824	23,212
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9)	(3)	(141)	73
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	11,371	7,460	31,965	23,139
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(67,517)	(40,135)	(189,930)	(131,821)
Cost of goods sold	(56,618)	(31,940)	(158,765)	(105,763)
Gross profit	(10,899)	(8,195)	(31,165)	(26,058)
Selling and administrative expenses	(10,899)	(8,195)	(31,165)	(26,058)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries, net of tax	(22,821)	(26,035)	(72,406)	(59,629)
Net earnings	(22,821)	(26,035)	(72,406)	(59,629)
Net earnings attributable to Caleres, Inc.	(22,821)	(26,035)	(72,406)	(59,629)
Comprehensive income	(22,822)	(25,857)	(72,200)	(60,105)
Comprehensive income attributable to Caleres, Inc.	$ (22,822)	$ (25,857)	$ (72,200)	$ (60,105)