Exhibit 23.1




                   Consent of Independent Auditors

We  consent  to  the  incorporation by reference in  the  Registration
Statement  (Form  S-8 No. 333-00000) pertaining to the  Incentive  and
Stock  Compensation Plan of 1999 of Brown Shoe Company,  Inc.  of  our
reports  dated  March  4,  1999,  with  respect  to  the  consolidated
financial  statements  of  Brown Shoe Company,  Inc.,  formerly  Brown
Group, Inc.,  incorporated  by reference  in its  Annual  Report (Form
10-K) for the fiscal  year  ended January 30,  1999  and  the  related
financial  statement  schedule  included  therein,  filed   with   the
Securities and Exchange Commission.



/s/  Ernst & Young LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
July 22, 1999