Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Jul. 30, 2011
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Tax Disclosure	8. Income Taxes Prior to May 2, 2010, the Company was treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and therefore had not been subject to federal and state income tax (subject to exception in a limited number of state and local jurisdictions). On May 12, 2010, the Company elected to be treated as a corporation under Subchapter C of Chapter 1 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, effective May 2, 2010, and was therefore subject to federal and state tax expense beginning May 2, 2010. The Reorganization, for tax purposes, was deemed a contribution by Express Parent of its assets and liabilities to the Company, followed by the liquidation of Express Parent. The Reorganization resulted in a taxable gain to Express Parent. Except in those few jurisdictions where Express Parent was taxed directly, the taxable gain flowed through to the members due to Express Parent's partnership tax treatment. The taxable gain correspondingly increased the tax basis in the assets acquired by the Company in the Reorganization. Also, as a result of the Reorganization, the Company had a liability due to a management holding company totaling $0.8 million as of January 29, 2011. The Company settled this liability by making a final cash payment during the first quarter of 2011. Additionally, the Company had a $3.5 million net liability comprised of a $4.8 million gross liability payable to a Golden Gate entity and a $1.3 million gross receivable due from taxing authorities. As of July 30, 2011, the Company settled the liability due to the Golden Gate entity by making a final cash payment during the second quarter of 2011. The provision for income taxes is based on a current estimate of the annual effective tax rate adjusted to reflect the impact of discrete items. The Company's quarterly effective tax rate does not reflect a benefit associated with losses related to certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company's effective tax rate was 40.6% and 41.4% (excluding items recorded discretely), respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively. The Company's effective tax rate was 40.2% and (273%) for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively. The increase in the effective rate is primarily a result of the Company's conversion to a corporation in connection with its IPO in the second quarter of 2010 and the recognition of a one-time tax benefit of $31.8 million in conjunction with the Reorganization. The Company recorded a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets arising from the net operating loss of foreign subsidiaries. As of July 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, the valuation allowance was approximately $0.1 million. No other valuation allowances have been provided for deferred tax assets because management believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the full amount of the net deferred tax assets will be realized in the future. The Company does not expect material adjustments to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months, but the outcome of tax matters is uncertain and unforeseen results can occur.

Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jul. 30, 2011

8. Income Taxes

Prior to May 2, 2010, the Company was treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and therefore had not been subject to federal and state income tax (subject to exception in a limited number of state and local jurisdictions). On May 12, 2010, the Company elected to be treated as a corporation under Subchapter C of Chapter 1 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, effective May 2, 2010, and was therefore subject to federal and state tax expense beginning May 2, 2010.

The Reorganization, for tax purposes, was deemed a contribution by Express Parent of its assets and liabilities to the Company, followed by the liquidation of Express Parent. The Reorganization resulted in a taxable gain to Express Parent. Except in those few jurisdictions where Express Parent was taxed directly, the taxable gain flowed through to the members due to Express Parent's partnership tax treatment. The taxable gain correspondingly increased the tax basis in the assets acquired by the Company in the Reorganization. Also, as a result of the Reorganization, the Company had a liability due to a management holding company totaling $0.8 million as of January 29, 2011. The Company settled this liability by making a final cash payment during the first quarter of 2011. Additionally, the Company had a $3.5 million net liability comprised of a $4.8 million gross liability payable to a Golden Gate entity and a $1.3 million gross receivable due from taxing authorities. As of July 30, 2011, the Company settled the liability due to the Golden Gate entity by making a final cash payment during the second quarter of 2011.

The provision for income taxes is based on a current estimate of the annual effective tax rate adjusted to reflect the impact of discrete items. The Company's quarterly effective tax rate does not reflect a benefit associated with losses related to certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company's effective tax rate was 40.6% and 41.4% (excluding items recorded discretely), respectively, for the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively.

The Company's effective tax rate was 40.2% and (273%) for the twenty-six weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively. The increase in the effective rate is primarily a result of the Company's conversion to a corporation in connection with its IPO in the second quarter of 2010 and the recognition of a one-time tax benefit of $31.8 million in conjunction with the Reorganization.

The Company recorded a valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets arising from the net operating loss of foreign subsidiaries. As of July 30, 2011 and January 29, 2011, the valuation allowance was approximately $0.1 million. No other valuation allowances have been provided for deferred tax assets because management believes that it is more-likely-than-not that the full amount of the net deferred tax assets will be realized in the future.

The Company does not expect material adjustments to the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months, but the outcome of tax matters is uncertain and unforeseen results can occur.