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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 MooXJR8NT/xiGt1zCgHyoA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-10-020707.txt : 20100407
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-10-020707.hdr.sgml : 20100407
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100407134700
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-10-020707
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100405
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100407
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100407

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Romano Anthony
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001320354

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-07258
		FILM NUMBER:		10736635

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CHARMING SHOPPES, INC.
		STREET 2:		450 WINKS LANE
		CITY:			BENSALEM
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19020

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd272258.xml
<DESCRIPTION>NEW RSU/SAR
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001320354</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Romano Anthony</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>450 WINKS LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BENSALEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP - Global Sourcing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-04-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15637</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15637</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-04-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45324</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-04-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45324</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45324</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Employee award of restricted stock units granted under Charming Shoppes, Inc. 2004 Stock Award and Incentive Plan, for no consideration other than services, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock appreciation rights (&quot;SAR&quot;) exercisable for stock, granted for no consideration other than services.  The grant is exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The SAR will become exercisable as to twenty-five (25%) percent of the underlying shares on each of the the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant (Transaction Date), subject to acceleration and early expiration in the event of certain terminations of employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>ANTHONY ROMANO</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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