-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 l9FbY/W58pMRyPXGJ6rOEQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000019353-04-000121.txt : 20040625
<SEC-HEADER>0000019353-04-000121.hdr.sgml : 20040625
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040625115951
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000019353-04-000121
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040624
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040625

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHARMING SHOPPES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000019353
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-WOMEN'S CLOTHING STORES [5621]
		IRS NUMBER:				231721355
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 WINKS LANE
		CITY:			BENSALEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2152459100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		450 WINKS LANE
		CITY:			BENSALEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19020

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CURL YVONNE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001135567

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07258
		FILM NUMBER:		04881286

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC
		STREET 2:		685 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127929800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS INC
		STREET 2:		685 THIRD AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000019353</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHARMING SHOPPES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHRS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135567</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURL YVONNE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 WINKS LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BENSALEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13658</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.44</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Share Units (&quot;RSU&quot;) automatically granted under the Company's 2003 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan for no consideration other than services, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d), and will vest and become non-forfeitable at June 1, 2005 or earlier in the event of death, disability, or termination of service as a director in certain other circumstances.  RSUs will be settled upon vesting, except that the Reporting Person may elect to defer settlement, in which case deferred RSUs will be settled solely by delivery of shares in a lump sum or in installments at or following the Reporting Person's termination of service as a director in accordance with such deferral election.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted under Charming Shoppes, Inc. 2003 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan for no consideration other than services, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Option becomes exercisable for 100% of the underlying shares beginning on the date indicated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>YVONNE M. CURL</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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