<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<!--XBRL Document Created with Wdesk from Workiva-->
<!--Copyright 2020 Workiva-->
<!--r:cf3fb970-6f76-495a-bd2d-b6e2a2e12905,g:ef0487f6-3cfb-4fce-8649-41c1170878bf-->
<link:linkbase xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase http://www.xbrl.org/2003/xbrl-linkbase-2003-12-31.xsd">
  <link:roleRef roleURI="http://www.express.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="simple" xlink:href="expr-20200603.xsd#Cover"/>
  <link:presentationLink xlink:role="http://www.express.com/role/Cover" xlink:type="extended">
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CoverAbstract"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentType_29d25741-6597-4815-88a9-a60af3b4a20c" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentType"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentType_29d25741-6597-4815-88a9-a60af3b4a20c" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_93987347-171e-40ec-82f8-3f4afc3b1c21" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate_93987347-171e-40ec-82f8-3f4afc3b1c21" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_a41e64e4-9605-4ed9-8123-23d3f61e5990" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityRegistrantName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityRegistrantName_a41e64e4-9605-4ed9-8123-23d3f61e5990" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_2e502582-996c-4002-8f62-2c7445e1e7da" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="4" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode_2e502582-996c-4002-8f62-2c7445e1e7da" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_718ce100-d697-4dd1-8c48-5b5e305cd284" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityFileNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="5" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityFileNumber_718ce100-d697-4dd1-8c48-5b5e305cd284" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_9859429e-6037-4935-b1bd-492c844121b7" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="6" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber_9859429e-6037-4935-b1bd-492c844121b7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_096f23c1-7e8b-4993-8bf7-82b4ad36b353" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="7" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1_096f23c1-7e8b-4993-8bf7-82b4ad36b353" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_a5ebf538-dea6-4859-902a-ed3835f026f8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="8" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown_a5ebf538-dea6-4859-902a-ed3835f026f8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_09369b6d-ff5b-4ced-8ba0-aa5e464801be" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="9" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince_09369b6d-ff5b-4ced-8ba0-aa5e464801be" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_402d91b5-415d-4bd1-a728-f7e97e60f9ab" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="10" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode_402d91b5-415d-4bd1-a728-f7e97e60f9ab" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_d8e962c1-cdae-44dd-979b-1d9a22105df8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_CityAreaCode"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="11" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_CityAreaCode_d8e962c1-cdae-44dd-979b-1d9a22105df8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1f2c5c45-36c0-4d0e-b0b5-2fbe09ae7f79" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_LocalPhoneNumber"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="12" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_LocalPhoneNumber_1f2c5c45-36c0-4d0e-b0b5-2fbe09ae7f79" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a2c1b622-8b13-41e0-a804-9b38ee59e938" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_WrittenCommunications"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="13" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_WrittenCommunications_a2c1b622-8b13-41e0-a804-9b38ee59e938" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_176bc784-1a70-4339-baea-eebcd29e4962" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SolicitingMaterial"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="14" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_SolicitingMaterial_176bc784-1a70-4339-baea-eebcd29e4962" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_096629f4-f0e6-4026-9024-0c28aab22908" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="15" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementTenderOffer_096629f4-f0e6-4026-9024-0c28aab22908" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_8b5aef18-8693-478d-99c9-77f2eb7b22d8" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="16" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer_8b5aef18-8693-478d-99c9-77f2eb7b22d8" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_77da6cb9-bf74-4d59-ae78-b5597b759b8d" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="17" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany_77da6cb9-bf74-4d59-ae78-b5597b759b8d" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_8c857b62-8c72-4921-9c33-712aa4b92983" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_EntityCentralIndexKey"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="18" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_8c857b62-8c72-4921-9c33-712aa4b92983" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_d1e73f1e-7bae-41e2-843f-cb8935ac0314" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_AmendmentFlag"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="19" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_AmendmentFlag_d1e73f1e-7bae-41e2-843f-cb8935ac0314" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_07db6a16-546a-4e1f-bd0d-94256b83a488" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationTable"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="20" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_CoverAbstract_bbdda666-b370-4fe6-82a2-2de59fb150b8" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_07db6a16-546a-4e1f-bd0d-94256b83a488" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_778b8324-c90d-465d-a133-923c9b3cfbd7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_07db6a16-546a-4e1f-bd0d-94256b83a488" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_778b8324-c90d-465d-a133-923c9b3cfbd7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_de668a6c-4738-458f-aa51-cce2dd6c7ae7" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_778b8324-c90d-465d-a133-923c9b3cfbd7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_de668a6c-4738-458f-aa51-cce2dd6c7ae7" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_ce7abcce-c615-4714-9594-635c50610ab9" xlink:href="http://xbrl.fasb.org/us-gaap/2019/elts/us-gaap-2019-01-31.xsd#us-gaap_CommonStockMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_de668a6c-4738-458f-aa51-cce2dd6c7ae7" xlink:to="loc_us-gaap_CommonStockMember_ce7abcce-c615-4714-9594-635c50610ab9" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember_220b4770-2a25-4634-a6c6-7da87c26a95a" xlink:href="expr-20200603.xsd#expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_us-gaap_ClassOfStockDomain_de668a6c-4738-458f-aa51-cce2dd6c7ae7" xlink:to="loc_expr_PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember_220b4770-2a25-4634-a6c6-7da87c26a95a" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_11d15242-11e9-45db-98c8-f0e999be59e2" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_DocumentInformationLineItems"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationTable_07db6a16-546a-4e1f-bd0d-94256b83a488" xlink:to="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_11d15242-11e9-45db-98c8-f0e999be59e2" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_c4e0a471-cc48-4699-8d00-b7026fd97997" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_Security12bTitle"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="1" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_11d15242-11e9-45db-98c8-f0e999be59e2" xlink:to="loc_dei_Security12bTitle_c4e0a471-cc48-4699-8d00-b7026fd97997" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_09cb8274-9773-4985-8a3a-74cbaba735fa" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_TradingSymbol"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="2" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_11d15242-11e9-45db-98c8-f0e999be59e2" xlink:to="loc_dei_TradingSymbol_09cb8274-9773-4985-8a3a-74cbaba735fa" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
    <link:loc xlink:type="locator" xlink:label="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01286541-6056-4322-b4e2-f06ea8000538" xlink:href="https://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019/dei-2019-01-31.xsd#dei_SecurityExchangeName"/>
    <link:presentationArc order="3" xlink:arcrole="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/arcrole/parent-child" xlink:from="loc_dei_DocumentInformationLineItems_11d15242-11e9-45db-98c8-f0e999be59e2" xlink:to="loc_dei_SecurityExchangeName_01286541-6056-4322-b4e2-f06ea8000538" xlink:type="arc" preferredLabel="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/terseLabel"/>
  </link:presentationLink>
</link:linkbase>
