BENSALEM, Pa., May 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), the retail apparel chain specializing in women's plus-size apparel, will host its First Quarter Fiscal 2004 earnings conference call on Thursday, May 22, 2003, at 9:15 am (EDT). First quarter earnings results will be released over the newswires prior to 9:15 am (EDT). The first quarter earnings press release will be available immediately following its release, at http://www.charming.com/investor/prpull.asp. Later that same day, first quarter earnings results will be furnished as an 8-K and will be available at http://www.charming.com/investor/earnings_filings.asp, by clicking on the "filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission" link.

Dorrit J. Bern, Chairman, CEO and President, Eric M. Specter, CFO and EVP, and Gayle M. Coolick, Director of Investor Relations, will comment on the First Quarter and an outlook for Fiscal 2004. Prepared remarks will be followed by a question and answer period.

To listen to the conference call, please dial 1-800-283-1485 followed by the passcode 2594# approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled event. The conference call will also be simulcast at http://www.charming.com/investor/conferencecalls.asp. The general public is invited to listen to the conference call via the webcast or the dial-in telephone number.

A transcript of prepared remarks and an audio replay of the conference call will be accessible at http://www.charming.com/investor/conferencecalls.asp starting at approximately 2:00 pm (EDT) on Thursday, May 22, 2003.

The conference call will be recorded on behalf of Charming Shoppes, Inc. and consists of copyrighted material. It may not be re-recorded, reproduced, transmitted or rebroadcast, in whole or in part, without the Company's express written permission. Accessing this call or the rebroadcast represents consent to these terms and conditions. Participation in this call serves as consent to having any comments or statements made appear on any transcript, broadcast or rebroadcast of this call.

Charming Shoppes, Inc., operates 2,245 stores in 48 states under the names LANE BRYANT(R), FASHION BUG(R), FASHION BUG PLUS(R), CATHERINE'S PLUS SIZES(R), MONSOON and ACCESSORIZE. Monsoon and Accessorize are registered trademarks of Monsoon Accessorize Ltd. Please visit www.charmingshoppes.com for additional information about Charming Shoppes, Inc.

Certain statements made during the conference call will be forward-looking statements concerning the Company's operations, performance, and financial condition. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding future performance, including earnings, sales performance, store openings and closings, the implementation of the cost reduction plan and other matters. 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: failure to achieve successful integrations, failure to successfully implement the restructuring plan and cost reductions, failure to successfully implement the Company's business plan for increased profitability and growth in the plus- size women's apparel business, changes in or miscalculation of fashion trends, extreme or unseasonable weather conditions, economic downturns, a weakness in overall consumer demand, failure to find suitable store locations, the ability to hire and train associates, trade restrictions and political or financial instability in countries where goods are manufactured, the interruption of merchandise flow to the Company's retail stores from its centralized distribution facilities, competitive pressures, and the adverse effects of acts or threats of war, terrorism, 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 1, 2003.

SOURCE Charming Shoppes, Inc.