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                                                                 EXHIBIT 23




                     Consent of Independent Auditors


We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Brown Group, Inc. of our report dated March 2, 1994, included in the 1993
Annual Report to Stockholders of Brown Group, Inc.

Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in 
Item 14(a).  These schedules are the responsibility of the Company's
management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. 
In our opinion, the financial statement schedules, referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
Form S-8 Number 2-58347 as amended through Post Effective Amendment Number 6
dated January 25, 1983, pertaining to the Stock Purchase Plan of 1977, and
Registration Statement Form S-8 Number 33-22328 dated June 6, 1988, pertaining
to the Employee Stock Appreciation Plans, as Amended, and Registration
Statement Form S-3 Number 33-21477 dated April 26, 1988, and related
Prospectus of our report dated March 2, 1994, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements and schedules of Brown Group, Inc. included and
incorporated by reference in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
January 29, 1994.



St. Louis, Missouri                         Ernst & Young /s/
April 21, 1994