Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jul. 30, 2011
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Business Description and Basis of Presentation	1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Business Description Express, Inc. (the "Company" or "Express") is a specialty apparel and accessories retailer of women's and men's merchandise, targeting the 20 to 30 year old customer. Express merchandise is sold through the Company's retail stores and website. As of July 30, 2011, Express operated 599 primarily mall-based stores in the United States and in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Company earns royalties from 7 stores in the Middle East operated through a development agreement ("Development Agreement") with Alshaya Trading Co. ("Alshaya"). Under the Development Agreement, Alshaya operates stores that sell Express-branded apparel and accessories purchased directly from the Company. Fiscal Year The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Fiscal years are referred to by the calendar year in which the fiscal year commences. All references herein to "2011" and "2010" represent the 52-week periods ended January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, respectively. All references herein to “the second quarter of 2011” and “the second quarter of 2010” represent the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively. Basis of Presentation In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's common stock ("IPO"), on May 12, 2010, Express Parent LLC ("Express Parent") converted into a Delaware corporation and changed its name from Express Parent LLC to Express, Inc. This conversion was effective May 2, 2010 for tax purposes. In connection with this conversion, all of the equity interests in Express Parent, which consisted of Class L, Class A, and Class C units, were converted into shares of the Company's common stock at a ratio of 0.702, 0.649, and 0.442, respectively. The accounting effects of the recapitalization, collectively referred to as the "Reorganization", are reflected retrospectively for all periods presented in the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements. Express owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Topco LLC ("Express Topco") which owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Holding LLC ("Express Holding"). Express Holding owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express, LLC and Express Finance Corp. ("Express Finance"). Express, LLC conducts the operations of the Company and was a division of Limited Brands, Inc. ("Limited Brands") until it was acquired by an affiliate of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. ("Golden Gate") in 2007 (the "Golden Gate Acquisition"). Express Finance was formed on January 28, 2010 for the purpose of serving as co-issuer of the 8 3/4% Senior Notes ("Senior Notes") described in Note 9. The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be anticipated for 2011. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended January 29, 2011, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC. Principles of Consolidation The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Business Description

Express, Inc. (the "Company" or "Express") is a specialty apparel and accessories retailer of women's and men's merchandise, targeting the 20 to 30 year old customer. Express merchandise is sold through the Company's retail stores and website. As of July 30, 2011, Express operated 599 primarily mall-based stores in the United States and in Puerto Rico. Additionally, the Company earns royalties from 7 stores in the Middle East operated through a development agreement ("Development Agreement") with Alshaya Trading Co. ("Alshaya"). Under the Development Agreement, Alshaya operates stores that sell Express-branded apparel and accessories purchased directly from the Company.

Fiscal Year

The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Fiscal years are referred to by the calendar year in which the fiscal year commences. All references herein to "2011" and "2010" represent the 52-week periods ended January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, respectively. All references herein to “the second quarter of 2011” and “the second quarter of 2010” represent the thirteen weeks ended July 30, 2011 and July 31, 2010, respectively.

Basis of Presentation

In connection with the initial public offering of the Company's common stock ("IPO"), on May 12, 2010, Express Parent LLC ("Express Parent") converted into a Delaware corporation and changed its name from Express Parent LLC to Express, Inc. This conversion was effective May 2, 2010 for tax purposes. In connection with this conversion, all of the equity interests in Express Parent, which consisted of Class L, Class A, and Class C units, were converted into shares of the Company's common stock at a ratio of 0.702, 0.649, and 0.442, respectively. The accounting effects of the recapitalization, collectively referred to as the "Reorganization", are reflected retrospectively for all periods presented in the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

Express owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Topco LLC ("Express Topco") which owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Holding LLC ("Express Holding"). Express Holding owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express, LLC and Express Finance Corp. ("Express Finance"). Express, LLC conducts the operations of the Company and was a division of Limited Brands, Inc. ("Limited Brands") until it was acquired by an affiliate of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. ("Golden Gate") in 2007 (the "Golden Gate Acquisition"). Express Finance was formed on January 28, 2010 for the purpose of serving as co-issuer of the 8 3/4% Senior Notes ("Senior Notes") described in Note 9.

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods, but are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be anticipated for 2011. Therefore, these statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended January 29, 2011, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC.

Principles of Consolidation

The unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.