Exhibit 23
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following registration statements of Brown Shoe Company, Inc. of our report dated March 8, 2005, except for Note 18 as to which the date is March 14, 2005 with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Brown Shoe Company, Inc. We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the following registration statements of Brown Shoe Company, Inc. of our report dated March 8, 2005 with respect to management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended January 29, 2005.
Form Number | Registration Statement Number | Description |
| Form S-8 | 2-58347 | Stock Purchase Plan of 1977, as amended |
| Form S-8 | 33-58751 | Stock Option and Restricted Stock Plan of 1994, as amended |
| Form S-8 | 33-83717 | Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 1999 |
| Form S-8 | 33-65900 | Brown Shoe Company, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan |
| Form S-8 | 333-89014 | Brown Shoe Company, Inc. Incentive and Stock Compensation Plan of 2002 |
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
March 29, 2005