BENSALEM, Pa., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS) today announced that it has filed an investor presentation with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") in connection with the Company's 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is scheduled for Thursday, May 8, 2008. Charming Shoppes' Board of Directors recommends shareholders vote FOR Charming Shoppes' experienced and highly-qualified directors -- Dorrit J. Bern, Alan Rosskamm and M. Jeannine Strandjord -- on the GOLD proxy card. The investor presentation is available under the "Investor Relations / Management Presentations" section of the Company's website at: http://www.charmingshoppes.com or at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.



    As noted in its presentation:

    -- Charming Shoppes is committed to being the leader in women's plus-size
       apparel, and its focused multi-brand, multi-channel strategy is the
       right plan to create long-term shareholder value.

    -- Charming Shoppes has a highly-experienced Board and management team
       with significant retail industry expertise. It is the right team to
       implement the Company's strategic plan.

    -- Charming Shoppes' Board and management team have a proven record of
       navigating challenging retail and economic environments and
       repositioning the Company to gain market share and grow profitability.

    -- The dissident's nominees have limited relevant experience and bring no
       new ideas to Charming Shoppes.

Charming Shoppes shareholders who have any questions or need assistance voting their GOLD proxy card should contact MacKenzie Partners, Inc., which is assisting the Company in this matter, toll-free at (800) 322-2885 or charming@mackenziepartners.com.

At February 2, 2008, Charming Shoppes, Inc. operated 2,409 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(R), PETITE SOPHISTICATE(R) and PETITE SOPHISTICATE OUTLET(R). Apparel, accessories, footwear and gift catalogs, including the following titles, are operated by Charming Shoppes' Crosstown Traders: Lane Bryant Woman, Old Pueblo Traders, Bedford Fair, Willow Ridge, Lew Magram, Brownstone Studio, Intimate Appeal, Monterey Bay Clothing Company, Coward Shoe and Figi's. Please visit http://www.charmingshoppes.com for additional information about Charming Shoppes, Inc.

Additional Information

On April 2, 2008, Charming Shoppes, Inc. filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Charming Shoppes, Inc., and began the process of mailing the definitive proxy statement and a GOLD proxy card to shareholders. Charming Shoppes' shareholders are strongly advised to read Charming Shoppes' proxy statement as it contains important information. Shareholders may obtain an additional copy of Charming Shoppes' definitive proxy statement and any other documents filed by Charming Shoppes with the SEC for free at Charming Shoppes' website http://www.charmingshoppes.com and at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the definitive proxy statement are available for free. In addition, copies of Charming Shoppes' proxy materials may be requested at no charge by contacting MacKenzie Partners, Inc. at 1-800-322-2885 or via email at charming@mackenziepartners.com. Detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of individuals who are participants in the solicitation of proxies of Charming Shoppes' shareholders is available in Charming Shoppes' definitive proxy statement filed with SEC on April 2, 2008.

Forward-Looking Language

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's operations, performance, and financial condition. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Such risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to: the failure to effectively implement the Company's plans for consolidation of the Catherines Plus Sizes brand, a new organizational structure and enhancements in the Company's merchandise and marketing, the failure to generate a positive response to the Company's new Lane Bryant catalog and the Lane Bryant credit card program, the failure to implement the Company's business plan for increased profitability and growth in the Company's retail stores and direct-to-consumer segments, the failure to successfully implement the Company's expansion of Cacique through new store formats, the failure of changes in management to achieve improvement in the Company's competitive position, the failure to successfully implement the Company's integration of operations of, and the business plan for, Crosstown Traders, Inc., adverse changes in costs vital to catalog operations, such as postage, paper and acquisition of prospects, declining response rates to catalog offerings, failure to maintain efficient and uninterrupted order-taking and fulfillment in our direct-to-consumer business, changes in or miscalculation of fashion trends, extreme or unseasonable weather conditions, economic downturns, escalation of energy costs, a weakness in overall consumer demand, failure to find suitable store locations, increases in wage rates, the ability to hire and train associates, trade and security restrictions and political or financial instability in countries where goods are manufactured, the interruption of merchandise flow from the Company's centralized distribution facilities, competitive pressures, and the adverse effects of natural disasters, war, acts of terrorism or threats of either, or other armed conflict, on the United States and international economies. These, and other risks and uncertainties, are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008 and other Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Charming Shoppes assumes no duty to update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.

SOURCE Charming Shoppes, Inc.