Long-Term Debt - Textuals (Details) £ in Millions, CAD in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2016 GBP (£)	Jan. 28, 2017 GBP (£)	Jan. 28, 2017 CAD	Jan. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt maturing in year one					$ 9,200,000
Long-term debt maturing in year two					51,400,000
Long-term debt maturing in year three					22,400,000
Long-term debt maturing in year four					0
Long-term debt maturing in year five					0
Long-term debt					82,905,000	$ 111,765,000
U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt					49,900,000
UK Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Interest coverage covenant minimum level		4.50
Interest coverage covenant maximum level		2.25
Interest Coverage Covenant, Declining Balance, Maximum Level		1.75
Cash flow coverage covenant minimum level		1.00
Revolving Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Commitment fee on the actual daily unused portions of the credit facility one	0.25%
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt					49,879,000	58,344,000
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt				CAD 39.1	29,800,000
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt			£ 16.0		20,100,000
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt					13,796,000	24,818,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Prime rate description	(a) For loans made in Canadian dollars, the bankers’ acceptances (“BA”) rate plus the applicable margin, or (b) the Canadian Prime Rate (defined as the highest of the (i) Bank of America Canadian Prime Rate, (ii) the Bank of America (Canada Branch) overnight rate plus 0.50%, and (iii) the BA rate for a one month interest period plus 1.0%) plus the applicable margin.
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility | Canadian Overnight Rate, Bank of America
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Canadian Sub Facility | Bankers Acceptances Rate, 30-Day BA Rate
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Initial applicable margin for base rate loans and U.S. Index rate loans	0.50%
Initial applicable margin for LIBOR loans and BA equivalent loans	1.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility | Federal Funds Rate
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Domestic Facility | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), 30-Day LIBOR
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	1.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Amended Credit Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility							$ 375,000,000.0
Excess availability under credit facility					298,200,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					400,000,000.0
Increase in availability under credit facility	$ 150,000,000
Components of borrowing base	90% of eligible inventory plus 85% of eligible wholesale receivables plus 90% of eligible credit card and debit card receivables less applicable reserves
Borrowing base based upon percentage of eligible inventory	90.00%
Borrowing base based upon percentage of eligible wholesale receivables	85.00%
Borrowing base percentage of eligible credit card and debit card receivables less applicable reserves	90.00%
Applicable margin plus higher of condition one	Federal Funds rate plus 0.50%
Applicable margin plus higher of condition two	LIBOR for an interest period of thirty days plus 1.0%
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold					$ 25,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage			10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (not less than)			1.0	1.0	1.0
Covenants for fixed charge coverage ratio (description)	not less than 1.0:1.0
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio			1	1	1
Amended amount on senior debt covenant					$ 500,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold for cash dominion					$ 30,000,000
Financial covenants, Excess Availability threshold percentage for cash dominion	12.50%
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility	$ 50,000,000
Aggregate amount of loans and letters of credit subject to receipt of commitment	$ 600,000,000
Borrowing base percentage as maximum from loan cap	30.00%
Percentage of shares pledged by company			65.00%	65.00%	65.00%
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Increase in availability under credit facility	$ 85,000,000
Aggregate amount of loans and letters of credit subject to receipt of commitment	$ 550,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Canadian Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					$ 70,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Swingline Loan | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Swingline Loan | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					40,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Standby Letters of Credit
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					70,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | UK Sub Facility
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					50,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Genesco (UK) Limited
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					10,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility | Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | GCO Canada Inc.
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility					5,000,000.0
Revolving Credit Facility | UK Credit Facility | UK Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt			£ 11.0		13,800,000
Revolving Credit Facility | U.S. Revolver Borrowings
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Capitalized deferred financing costs of credit facility and amendment					3,100,000
Amortization period of deferred financing costs for credit facility and amendment	5 years
Line of Credit | UK Term Loans
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt			£ 15.4		19,300,000	$ 28,896,000
Line of Credit | Letter of Credit
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Long-term debt					$ 11,200,000
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan A | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £		£ 17.5
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan A | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		1.80%
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan B | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £		£ 11.6
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan B | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.50%
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Working Capital Facility | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £		£ 2.5
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan C | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate principal amount of credit facility | £		£ 22.5
Line of Credit | UK Credit Facility | Term Loan C | London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) | Schuh Group
Long-Term Debt (Textual) [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate		2.20%