UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 3  INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   MISSEL, DIANE V.
   7155 AINSWORTH DR.


   GERMANTOWN, TN  38138
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
   6/14/01
3. I.R.S. Identification Number of Reporting Person, if an entity (Voluntary)

4. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   CHARMING SHOPPES, INC. (CHRS)
5. Relationship of Reporting Person to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   [ ] Director                   [ ] 10% Owner
   [X] Officer (give title below) [ ] Other (specify below)
   President - Catherines
6. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   [X] Form filed by One Reporting Person
   [ ] Form filed by More than One Reporting Person



Table I   Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Security                                          2)Amount of         3)  4)Nature of
                                                             Securities          D   Indirect
                                                             Beneficially        or  Beneficial
                                                             Owned               I   Ownership
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            
Common Stock                                                 14,606              D   Direct


Table II   Derivative Securitites Beneficially Owned
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1)Title of Derivative Security  2)Date Exercisable  3)Title and Amount of                   4)Conver-  5)Ownership 6)Nature of
                                and Expiration Date Securities Underlying                   sion or    Form of     Indirect
                                (Month/Day/Year)    Derivative Security                     exercise   Derivative  Beneficial
                                                                                            price of   Security    Ownership
                                Date      Expira-                                Amount or  Deri-      Direct(D)
                                Exer-     tion                                   Number of  vative     or
                                cisable   Date      Title                        Shares     Security   Indirect(I)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                              
Non-Qualified Stock Option      02/23/02  02/23/11  Common Stock                 66,000     $6.50000   D           Direct
(right to buy) (1)              (2)
Non-Qualified Stock Option      01/31/01  01/31/10  Common Stock                 60,000     $6.81250   D           Direct
(right to buy) (1)              (2)


Explanation of Responses:

(1)
Employee stock option granted under Charming Shoppes, Inc. 1993 Employees' Stock Incentive Plan, for no consideration other than
services, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.
(2)
Option becomes exercisable for 20% of the underlying shares annually, beginning on the date indicated.



SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
/S/ MISSEL, DIANE V.
DATE 06/15/01