Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Jan. 30, 2016
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	Description of Business and Basis of Presentation Business Description Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("Express" or the "Company"), 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 retail and factory outlet stores and the Company's e-commerce website, www.express.com, as well as its mobile app. As of January 30, 2016, Express operated 572 primarily mall-based retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico as well as 81 factory outlet stores. Additionally, the Company earned revenue from 33 franchise stores in the Middle East, Latin America, and South Africa. These franchise stores are operated by franchisees pursuant to franchise agreements. Under the franchise agreements, the franchisees operate stand-alone Express stores and Express shops within department 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. References herein to "2015," "2014," and "2013" represent the 52-week periods ended January 30, 2016, January 31, 2015, and February 1, 2014, respectively. Basis of Presentation Express, Inc., a holding company, owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Topco LLC, a holding company, 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, together with its subsidiaries, including Express Fashion Operations, LLC, conducts the operations of the Company. Express, LLC was a division of L Brands, Inc. until it was acquired by an affiliate of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. in 2007. Express Finance was formed on January 28, 2010, solely for the purpose of serving as co-issuer of the 8 ³/4% Senior Notes ("Senior Notes") issued on March 5, 2010 and described in Note 8. Principles of Consolidation The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)," and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early application permitted for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements. In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." ASU 2015-17 requires entities to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current on a classified balance sheet. The new standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company has elected to adopt the standard early, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will apply the standard prospectively. Prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Under ASU 2016-02, a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on its balance sheet. The new standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements. Correction of Error The 52-week period ended January 30, 2016 includes the correction of an error with regard to the calculation of a deferred tax liability. As a result of the error, in previously filed Consolidated Financial Statements current deferred tax liabilities were overstated and current accrued liabilities were understated. The error had no impact on stockholders’ equity, the Consolidated Statements of Income, or net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for prior periods. The Company does not believe these corrections were material to any current or prior interim or annual periods that were affected. The correction of the error in the 52-week period ended January 30, 2016 resulted in an increase to deferred tax assets of $7.7 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $0.5 million, an increase in other long-term liabilities of $7.5 million, and incremental income tax expense of $0.3 million. The increase in other long-term liabilities is due to an uncertain tax position, including the effect of interest. The correction also resulted in corresponding changes in certain lines within the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Business Description

Express, Inc., together with its subsidiaries ("Express" or the "Company"), 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 retail and factory outlet stores and the Company's e-commerce website, www.express.com, as well as its mobile app. As of January 30, 2016, Express operated 572 primarily mall-based retail stores in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico as well as 81 factory outlet stores. Additionally, the Company earned revenue from 33 franchise stores in the Middle East, Latin America, and South Africa. These franchise stores are operated by franchisees pursuant to franchise agreements. Under the franchise agreements, the franchisees operate stand-alone Express stores and Express shops within department 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. References herein to "2015," "2014," and "2013" represent the 52-week periods ended January 30, 2016, January 31, 2015, and February 1, 2014, respectively.

Basis of Presentation

Express, Inc., a holding company, owns all of the outstanding equity interests in Express Topco LLC, a holding company, 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, together with its subsidiaries, including Express Fashion Operations, LLC, conducts the operations of the Company. Express, LLC was a division of L Brands, Inc. until it was acquired by an affiliate of Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc. in 2007. Express Finance was formed on January 28, 2010, solely for the purpose of serving as co-issuer of the 8 ³/4% Senior Notes ("Senior Notes") issued on March 5, 2010 and described in Note 8.

Principles of Consolidation

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

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09. ASU 2014-09 supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)," and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09 to annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 with early application permitted for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, "Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes." ASU 2015-17 requires entities to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as non-current on a classified balance sheet. The new standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company has elected to adopt the standard early, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will apply the standard prospectively. Prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases" (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires entities to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Under ASU 2016-02, a lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term on its balance sheet. The new standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. ASU 2016-02 mandates a modified retrospective transition method with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements.

Correction of Error

The 52-week period ended January 30, 2016 includes the correction of an error with regard to the calculation of a deferred tax liability. As a result of the error, in previously filed Consolidated Financial Statements current deferred tax liabilities were overstated and current accrued liabilities were understated. The error had no impact on stockholders’ equity, the Consolidated Statements of Income, or net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for prior periods. The Company does not believe these corrections were material to any current or prior interim or annual periods that were affected. The correction of the error in the 52-week period ended January 30, 2016 resulted in an increase to deferred tax assets of $7.7 million, an increase in accrued expenses of $0.5 million, an increase in other long-term liabilities of $7.5 million, and incremental income tax expense of $0.3 million. The increase in other long-term liabilities is due to an uncertain tax position, including the effect of interest. The correction also resulted in corresponding changes in certain lines within the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.