BENSALEM, Pa., March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS), a leading multi-brand, multi-channel specialty apparel retailer specializing in women's plus-size apparel, will host its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2006 earnings conference call on Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at 9:15 am Eastern time. Fourth quarter and fiscal year 2006 results will be released over the newswires and will be available on Form 8-K prior to 9:15 am Eastern time. Both the fourth quarter earnings release and the Form 8-K will be available at http://www.charmingshoppes.com/investors/index.asp.

Dorrit J. Bern, Chairman, CEO and President, Eric M. Specter, CFO and EVP, Steven R. Wishner, SVP of Finance, and Gayle M. Coolick, Director of Investor Relations, will comment on the Company's fourth quarter and fiscal year results. Prepared remarks will be followed by a question and answer period.

To listen to the conference call, please dial 866-225-4091 approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled event. The conference call will also be simulcast at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=106124&p=irol-audioArchives. 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 for the conference call will be accessible at http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=106124&p=irol-audioArchives prior to 9:15 am Eastern time on Wednesday, March 15, 2006.

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.

At January 28, 2006, Charming Shoppes, Inc. operated 2,236 stores in 48 states under the names LANE BRYANT(R), FASHION BUG(R), FASHION BUG PLUS(R), and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES(R). Additionally, 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.

The Company's earnings press release and conference call will contain 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: failure to implement the Company's business plan for entry into the outlet store distribution channel, 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 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, a weakness in overall consumer demand, failure to find suitable store locations, 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 its 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 January 29, 2005 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.

CONTACT: Gayle M. Coolick, Director of Investor Relations, Charming Shoppes, Inc., +1-215-638-6955