-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000019353-03-000110.txt : 20030627
<SEC-HEADER>0000019353-03-000110.hdr.sgml : 20030627
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030627101656
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000019353-03-000110
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030626
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030627

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:			OLSHAN KENNETH S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001087719

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07258
		FILM NUMBER:		03759776

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHARMING SHOPPES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ATTN: ROBIN GOLDBERG
		CITY:			BENSALEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2156386772

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHARMING SHOPPES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ATTN: ROBIN GOLDBERG 450 WINKS LANE
		CITY:			BENSALEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001087719</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSHAN KENNETH S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Restricted Share Units</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-26</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>3000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>4.78</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-26</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>6500</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-06-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-26</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>6500</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>6500</value>
            </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <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, 2004 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 on the date indicated subject to earlier exercisability and earlier expiration in the case of death, disability, a change in control, and certain other terminations of service.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>OLSHAN, KENNETH S.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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