<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-019673.txt : 20130605
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-019673.hdr.sgml : 20130605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130605171908
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-019673
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130603
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130605
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130605

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FROMM RONALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227946

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02191
		FILM NUMBER:		13895112

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 DROMARA ROAD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63166-0029
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-03</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FROMM RONALD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8300 MARYLAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>53826</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5089</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>695961</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6581</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5058</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>689380</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1503</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.5041</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>687877</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19903</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Indirect Holding through 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.50 to $21.54, 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>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.50 to $21.55, 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 (2) to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $21.50 to $21.55, 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 (3) to this Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Stephenson, Attny In Fact for Ronald A. Fromm</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
