v3.3.1.900

Investment in Town Shoes Limited (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 30, 2016 | Oct. 31, 2015 | Aug. 01, 2015 | May. 02, 2015 | Jan. 30, 2016 | Jan. 31, 2015 | Feb. 01, 2014 | May. 09, 2014
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Town Shoe Acquisition, Ownership Interest Acquired | 46.30% |  |  |  | 46.30% |  |  | 49.20%
Town Shoe Acquisition, Purchase Price for Ownership Interest (CAD) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 75,100
Town Shoe Acquisition, Purchase Price for Ownership Interest (USD) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 68,900
Town Shoe Acquisition, Voting Control Interest Acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 50.00%
Foreign Currency Purchase (CAD) |  |  |  | $ 100,000 |  |  |  |
Foreign Currency Purchase (USD) |  |  |  | 79,000 |  |  |  |
Nonoperating Income (Expense) | $ (20) | $ (107) | $ (7) | 3,312 | $ 3,178 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized |  |  |  |  | 10,800 |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Investment in Town Shoes - beginning of period |  |  |  | 25,887 | 25,887 | 0 |  |
Initial investment |  |  |  |  | 0 | 22,339 |  |
Acquisition Costs, Part 2 |  |  |  |  | (184) |  |  |
Acquisition Costs, Period Cost |  |  |  |  |  | 2,897 |  |
DSW Inc.'s portion of Town Shoes (loss) income |  |  |  |  | (5,250) | 178 |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments included in Other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  |  |  | 934 | 729 |  |
Amortization of purchase price adjustments |  |  |  |  | (199) | (256) |  |
Investment in Town Shoes - end of period | 21,188 |  |  |  | 21,188 | 25,887 | 0 |
Note receivable from Town Shoes - beginning of period |  |  |  | $ 43,304 | 43,304 | 0 |  |
Purchase of note receivable | 0 |  |  |  | 4,764 | 46,596 | 0 |
Payment-in-kind interest earned |  |  |  |  | 5,098 | 3,891 |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments included in Other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  |  |  | (4,232) | (7,183) |  |
Note receivable from Town Shoes - end of period | $ 44,170 |  |  |  | $ 44,170 | 43,304 | $ 0 |
Shareholder Note, Interest Rate |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12.00%
Town [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchase of note receivable |  |  |  |  |  | $ 46,596 |  |

X
- Definition Acquisition Costs, Part 2 + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_AcquisitionCostsPart2
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Foreign Currency Purchase (CAD) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_ForeignCurrencyPurchaseCAD
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Foreign Currency Purchase (USD) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_ForeignCurrencyPurchaseUSD
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Payments to acquire equity method investments - cash paid to purchase + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_Paymentstoacquireequitymethod
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Shareholder Note, Interest Rate + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_ShareholderNoteInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Town Shoe Acquisition, Ownership Interest Acquired + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_TownShoeAcquisitionOwnershipInterestAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Town Shoe Acquisition, Purchase Price for Ownership Interest (CAD) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_TownShoeAcquisitionPurchasePriceforOwnershipInterestCAD
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Town Shoe Acquisition, Purchase Price for Ownership Interest (USD) + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_TownShoeAcquisitionPurchasePriceforOwnershipInterestUSD
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Town Shoe Acquisition, Voting Control Interest Acquired + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | dsw_TownShoeAcquisitionVotingControlInterestAcquired
Namespace Prefix: | dsw_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The capitalized costs incurred during the period (excluded from amortization) to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire an unproved property, including costs of lease bonuses and options to purchase or lease properties, the portion of costs applicable to minerals when land including mineral rights is purchased in fee, brokers' fees, recording fees, legal costs, and other costs incurred in acquiring properties. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 932 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-10.(c)(7)(ii)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=50486907&loc=d3e511914-122862 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 10 -Paragraph c -Subparagraph 3(ii)(A) -Article 4 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AcquisitionCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35755396&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsAndJointVenturesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) from foreign currency translation adjustments and purchase accounting adjustments of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35741047&loc=d3e13816-109267 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillTranslationAndPurchaseAccountingAdjustments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents the undistributed income (or loss) of equity method investments, net of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporations; such investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsNetOfDividendsOrDistributions
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of interest expense incurred on a debt or other obligation to related party. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InterestExpenseRelatedParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of income or expense from ancillary business-related activities (that is to say, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amounts due from parties associated with the reporting entity as evidenced by a written promise to pay, due after 1 year (or 1 business cycle). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Related Parties -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16382449 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 850 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6457730&loc=d3e39549-107864 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.11) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(k)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph a -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NotesReceivableRelatedPartiesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The cash outflow for a loan, supported by a promissory note, granted to related parties where one party can exercise control or significant influence over another party; including affiliates, owners or officers and their immediate families, pension trusts, and so forth. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Investing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3213-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OriginationOfNotesReceivableFromRelatedParties
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, attributable to noncontrolling interests. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51664549&loc=SL4569616-111683 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51664549&loc=SL4569643-111683 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -Subparagraph (b,c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32211-110900 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=dsw_TownMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |