Charming Shoppes Hosts Philadelphia Police Athletic League Youths for Fashion Seminar; Philadelphia PAL Honors Dorrit J. Bern

Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS) a leading multi-brand, multi-channel specialty apparel retailer specializing in women's plus-size apparel, recently hosted a group of local youths for a fashion seminar. On May 21, 2007, the Company invited a group of 50 girls to the Company's Bensalem, Pennsylvania headquarters to learn about the retail fashion industry. The 50 girls are all high school students, and all participants in the Philadelphia Police Athletic League (PAL).

The evening began with a welcome from Charming Shoppes' Chairman, CEO and President, Dorrit J. Bern, who discussed women in executive leadership positions and the wide range of career paths available within the retail fashion industry. During the evening, the girls broke into small teams to design outfits, and modeled their creations to the audience in a fashion show. Following the fashion show, Charming Shoppes hosted a tour of the product development area and the CAD studio, where the girls were shown a close-up look at how a style originates and progresses to final production. To end the evening, Cheyney University's Fashion Merchandising Coordinator, Dr. Vanessa Brantley, presented information to the group on internship and scholarship opportunities.

The next day, on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, Dorrit Bern received the Philadelphia Police Athletic League's highest honor at the 2007 PAL Award Dinner, which celebrated 60 years of "Cops Helping Kids". This prestigious award is given to Philadelphia-area leaders whose actions or donations have made significant improvements to their communities. This year's honorees join a long list of prestigious Philadelphians who have been recognized for their tremendous support of the Police Athletic League and the Philadelphia community. Each honoree has given back to Philadelphia and to PAL in their own unique way.

During her acceptance speech, Bern related the story of Charming Shoppes' donation of $2 million in apparel to Hurricane Katrina victims, and how the targeted delivery of the Company's apparel donations were made possible by the Philadelphia PAL. Thanking PAL for their assistance to Charming Shoppes, Bern said, "In my heart of hearts, I am most proud that I know for certain, thanks to our friends at PAL, our plus-sized women received every article of clothing and shoes Charming Shoppes provided to them."

Charming Shoppes and the Philadelphia PAL have partnered together in many programs that have made a difference in the Philadelphia area. Charming Shoppes has supported PAL's "Positive Images Program," a city-wide initiative which provides "esteem building lessons, life skills workshops, and educational and cultural field trip experiences" to over 350 inner-city girls, ages 11-17. This past February, the Company's Fashion Bug brand outfitted 16 young ladies in business apparel, for their participation in PAL's "Day at City Hall" program. Additionally, PAL youth have benefited from Charming Shoppes' Keeping Kids Warm(R) program, in which the Company has distributed over 5,000 winter coats through all 27 PAL Centers across the city of Philadelphia.

About Charming Shoppes, Inc.

Charming Shoppes, Inc. operates 2,396 retail stores in 48 states under the names LANE BRYANT(R), FASHION BUG(R), FASHION BUG PLUS(R), CATHERINES PLUS SIZES(R), LANE BRYANT OUTLET(TM), and PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET(TM). Apparel, accessories, footwear and gift catalogs, including the following titles, are operated by Charming Shoppes' Crosstown Traders: Old Pueblo Traders, Bedford Fair, Willow Ridge, Lew Magram, Brownstone Studio, Regalia, Intimate Appeal, Monterey Bay Clothing Company, Coward Shoe and Figi's. Please visit http://www.charmingshoppes.com for additional information about Charming Shoppes, Inc.

About the Philadelphia Police Athletic League

The Philadelphia Police Athletic League is an independent non-profit corporation committed to "Cops Helping Kids". Philadelphia PAL is comprised of 27 centers across Philadelphia serving 23,000 youngsters both male and female. Each center is supervised by Philadelphia Police Officers who are assigned full-time to direct activities and oversee the young people. Programs include sport, educational and cultural opportunities.