<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-011998.txt : 20120328
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-011998.hdr.sgml : 20120328
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120328155943
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-011998
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120327
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120328
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAEZA MARIO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001097993

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02191
		FILM NUMBER:		12720670

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		STE 2100
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10166

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:			0131

	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>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-27</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001097993</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAEZA MARIO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 2100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10166</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.68</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were bought in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $9.6781 to $9.68, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Brown Shoe Company, Inc., any security holder of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote (1) to this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Stephenson, Attny in Fact for Mario Baeza</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
