Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
May 02, 2026
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Fiscal Year	Fiscal Year- Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. References to a fiscal year (e.g., "2026") refer to the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins. This reporting schedule is followed by many national retail companies and typically results in a 52-week fiscal year (including 2026 and 2025) but occasionally will contain an additional week resulting in a 53-week fiscal year.
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of Consolidation- The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Designer Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All amounts are in U.S. dollars.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. Certain estimates and assumptions use forecasted financial information based on information reasonably available to us. Significant estimates and assumptions are required as a part of accounting for customer returns and allowances, gift card breakage income, deferred revenue associated with reward programs, valuation of inventories, depreciation and amortization, impairments of long-lived assets, intangibles, goodwill and investments, lease accounting, redeemable noncontrolling interest, income taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves. Although we believe that these estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based on management's knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and assumptions, and actual results could differ from these estimates.
Chief Executive Officer Transition and Restructuring Costs
Income Taxes	Income Taxes- For the three months ended May 2, 2026, we used the annual effective tax method of accounting for interim income taxes, which reflects the expected annual tax expense and improves comparability across interim periods. For the three months ended May 3, 2025, we used the discrete effective tax method of accounting for interim income taxes, as we determined that method was more appropriate at that time due to the high degree of uncertainty in estimating annual pre-tax earnings. For the three months ended May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025, our effective tax rate was 55.0% and 11.0%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 2, 2026 differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to the tax impact of non-deductible compensation and state income taxes, which has a higher rate impact on a relatively low pre-tax income base. The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 3, 2025 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to state minimum tax expense on quarterly pre-tax loss and non-deductible compensation.
Fair Value	Fair Value- Fair value is defined as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized using defined hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair value measurements as follows: • Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities • Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable • Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximated their fair values due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of borrowings under our ABL Revolver and our Term Loan approximated fair value based on the terms and variable interest rates.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements- In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2024-03, Income Statement Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, which requires disaggregated disclosures for specific cost and expense categories such as inventory purchases, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization, as well as other disclosures. ASU 2024-03 is effective either on a retrospective basis to all prior periods presented or on a prospective basis beginning with our 2027 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent interim periods. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 to the notes of the consolidated financial statements. In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which eliminates accounting consideration of software project development stages and instead requires capitalization to begin when management authorizes and commits to funding the project and it is probable the software will be completed and used as intended. ASU 2025-06 is effective for us in the first quarter of 2028 and early adoption is permitted either on a retrospective, prospective, or modified prospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2025-06 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
Revenue Recognition	We record deferred revenue liabilities, included in accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, for remaining obligations we have to our customers.
Earnings Per Share	Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on net income (loss) attributable to Designer Brands Inc. and the weighted average of Class A and Class B common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of common shares adjusted for outstanding stock-based compensation awards calculated using the treasury stock method. The dilutive effect of outstanding stock-based compensation awards is applicable only in periods when we have net income attributable to Designer Brands Inc.
Shareholders' Equity	Our Class A common shares are listed for trading under the ticker symbol "DBI" on the New York Stock Exchange. There is currently no public market for the Company's Class B common shares, but the Class B common shares can be converted into the Company's Class A common shares at the election of the holder on a share-for-share basis. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B common shares are entitled to eight votes per share on matters submitted to shareholders for approval.

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

May 02, 2026

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Fiscal Year- Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31. References to a fiscal year (e.g., "2026") refer to the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins. This reporting schedule is followed by many national retail companies and typically results in a 52-week fiscal year (including 2026 and 2025) but occasionally will contain an additional week resulting in a 53-week fiscal year.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation- The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Designer Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. All amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates- The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting periods. Certain estimates and assumptions use forecasted financial information based on information reasonably available to us. Significant estimates and assumptions are required as a part of accounting for customer returns and allowances, gift card breakage income, deferred revenue associated with reward programs, valuation of inventories, depreciation and amortization, impairments of long-lived assets, intangibles, goodwill and investments, lease accounting, redeemable noncontrolling interest, income taxes and valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, and self-insurance reserves. Although we believe that these estimates and assumptions are reasonable, they are based on management's knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates and assumptions, and actual results could differ from these estimates.

Chief Executive Officer Transition and Restructuring Costs

Income Taxes

Income Taxes- For the three months ended May 2, 2026, we used the annual effective tax method of accounting for interim income taxes, which reflects the expected annual tax expense and improves comparability across interim periods. For the three months ended May 3, 2025, we used the discrete effective tax method of accounting for interim income taxes, as we determined that method was more appropriate at that time due to the high degree of uncertainty in estimating annual pre-tax earnings.

For the three months ended May 2, 2026 and May 3, 2025, our effective tax rate was 55.0% and 11.0%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 2, 2026 differed from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to the tax impact of non-deductible compensation and state income taxes, which has a higher rate impact on a relatively low pre-tax income base. The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 3, 2025 differed from the statutory rate primarily due to state minimum tax expense on quarterly pre-tax loss and non-deductible compensation.

Fair Value

Fair Value- Fair value is defined as the price that would be received in the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value are categorized using defined hierarchical levels related to the subjectivity associated with the inputs to fair value measurements as follows:

• Level 1 - Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

• Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs that are observable

• Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which little or no market activity exists

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximated their fair values due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of borrowings under our ABL Revolver and our Term Loan approximated fair value based on the terms and variable interest rates.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements- In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2024-03, Income Statement Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, which requires disaggregated disclosures for specific cost and expense categories such as inventory purchases, employee compensation, depreciation, and amortization, as well as other disclosures. ASU 2024-03 is effective either on a retrospective basis to all prior periods presented or on a prospective basis beginning with our 2027 Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent interim periods. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2024-03 to the notes of the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which eliminates accounting consideration of software project development stages and instead requires capitalization to begin when management authorizes and commits to funding the project and it is probable the software will be completed and used as intended. ASU 2025-06 is effective for us in the first quarter of 2028 and early adoption is permitted either on a retrospective, prospective, or modified prospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2025-06 on the consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Revenue Recognition

We record deferred revenue liabilities, included in accrued expenses on the condensed consolidated balance sheets, for remaining obligations we have to our customers.

Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on net income (loss) attributable to Designer Brands Inc. and the weighted average of Class A and Class B common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of common shares adjusted for outstanding stock-based compensation awards calculated using the treasury stock method. The dilutive effect of outstanding stock-based compensation awards is applicable only in periods when we have net income attributable to Designer Brands Inc.

Shareholders' Equity

Our Class A common shares are listed for trading under the ticker symbol "DBI" on the New York Stock Exchange. There is currently no public market for the Company's Class B common shares, but the Class B common shares can be converted into the Company's Class A common shares at the election of the holder on a share-for-share basis. Holders of Class A common shares are entitled to one vote per share and holders of Class B common shares are entitled to eight votes per share on matters submitted to shareholders for approval.