UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 17, 2005


                             CHARMING SHOPPES, INC.
                             ----------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        PENNSYLVANIA                 000-07258                    23-1721355
        ------------                 ---------                    ----------
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission                  (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)            File Number)              Identification No.)


                   450 WINKS LANE, BENSALEM, PA           19020
                   ----------------------------           -----
             (Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (215) 245-9100
                                                           --------------


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
                                 --------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simul-
taneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
    230.425)

[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
    240.14a-12)

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
    Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 7.01.  Regulation FD Disclosure.

     On October 17, 18, 19, and 20th, Charming Shoppes management will be making
presentations to investors. The Company's presentation includes the following
projections regarding the Company's financial performance:

                   Projection for Year ending January 28, 2006
                   vs. Actual for Year Ended January 29, 2005
                   ------------------------------------------



                                 Projected                       Actual
                                Year Ending                    Year Ended
($ in millions)                Jan. 28, 2006    % of Sales    Jan. 29, 2005    % of Sales
                               -------------    ----------    -------------    ----------
                                                                        
Sales..........................   $2,720.0        100.0%         $2,332.3        100.0%
Gross profit...................      820.0         30.1             692.1         29.7
Selling, general and 
     administrative expenses...      654.0         24.0             577.3         24.8
Pre-tax income.................      152.0          5.6             101.7          4.4
Net income.....................       96.0          3.5              64.5          2.8

Diluted net income per share...      $0.74                         $0.52


Highlights of Projection:

     o    17% revenue growth

     o    50 basis point expansion in gross profit

     o    70 basis point leverage in selling, general, and administrative
          expenses

     o    49% year-over-year growth in net income

     o    2-year compound annual growth rate of 59% in net income


           Projected Financial Plan for Year Ending January 28, 2006:
           ----------------------------------------------------------

o    Capital expenditures of $95 - $105 million

o    Free cash flow(1) of approximately $65 million

o    Depreciation/amortization of $80 - $85 million

o    65 - 70 new store openings

-------------------- 
(1)  Refer to "Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures" below


                                Financial Goals:
                                ----------------

o    Increase earnings before income tax margins to a range of 7% - 8% of sales
     over the next few years, with increased sales and gross profit in all
     brands and channels

o    Deliver on synergistic opportunities to drive earnings performance

o    Maintain strong liquidity from internally-generated free cash flow and bank
     credit line



                                       1



             Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Financial Measures:
             ------------------------------------------------------

     The Company reports its financial results in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, management believes that certain
non-GAAP performance measures, used in managing the Company's business, provide
users of the Company's financial information with additional useful information.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an
alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with
GAAP. Certain items that may have a significant impact on the Company's
financial position, results of operations, and cash flows must be considered
when assessing actual financial condition and performance regardless of whether
these items are included in these non-GAAP financial measures. Additionally, the
methods used by the Company to calculate its non-GAAP financial measures may
differ significantly from methods used by other companies to compute similar
measures. As a result, the non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not
be comparable with similar measures provided by other companies.



                                                                    Projected
                                                                   Year Ending
Free Cash Flow ($ in millions)                                    Jan. 28, 2006
------------------------------                                    -------------
                                                                    
Most comparable GAAP measure:
Net cash provided by operating activities........................      $169.0
                                                                       ======

Non-GAAP measure:
Net cash provided by operating activities........................      $169.0
Investment in capital assets, including equipment 
       acquired through capital leases, and
       net of landlord construction allowances...................       (92.0)
Capital lease financing..........................................         4.0
Long-term debt repayments........................................       (16.0)
                                                                       ------
Free cash flow...................................................      $ 65.0
                                                                       ======


     In accordance with General Instruction B.2 to Form 8-K, the information
included in this "Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure" shall be deemed to be
"furnished" and shall not be deemed to be "filed" with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), nor shall it be deemed incorporated by
reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act,
except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

     The information included in this "Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure" and
in the Company's presentation 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: failure to successfully
integrate the operations of Crosstown Traders, Inc. with Charming Shoppes, Inc.,
the failure to implement the Company's business plan for increased profitability
and growth in the plus-size women's apparel business, the failure to
successfully implement the Company's business plan for Crosstown Traders, Inc.,
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 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 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.


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                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                              CHARMING SHOPPES, INC.
                                              ----------------------
                                              (Registrant)

Date:   October 17, 2005                      By: /s/  ERIC M. SPECTER
                                                  --------------------
                                                  Eric M. Specter
                                                  Executive Vice President
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


































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