<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-11-022451.txt : 20110802
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-11-022451.hdr.sgml : 20110802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110802084828
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-11-022451
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110730
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110802

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KLEIN WARD M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182829

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02191
		FILM NUMBER:		111002111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ENERGIZER HOLDINGS INC
		STREET 2:		533 MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY DR
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			6141

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROWN SHOE CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000014707
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FOOTWEAR, (NO RUBBER) [3140]
		IRS NUMBER:				430197190
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0426

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		8300 MARYLAND AVE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 29
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3148544000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 29
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63166

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN SHOE CO INC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990528

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BROWN SHOE CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720327
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-07-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000014707</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BROWN SHOE CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182829</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLEIN WARD M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ENERGIZER HOLDINGS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>533 MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>6141</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>63</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.98</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>63</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9051</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These Phantom Stock Units  are rounded to the nearest whole number and were issued pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors on the last day of the fiscal quarter based on the value of dividend equivalents earned during the quarter, divided by the market value (mean of the high and low price) of the Company's common stock on the last trading day of the fiscal quarter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each unit of phantom stock represents the right to receive cash equivalent to the fair market value of a share of common stock of the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock units will be settled in cash in annual installments over a five-year or ten-year period, or in a lump sum in accordance with the Director's prior election, when the Director's service as a director terminates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/John M Hawkins, Attny in Fact for Mr. Klein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
