I hope you can take a few minutes to answer a question about jeans. I used to wear NYDJ in an 18WP (women's petite). NYDJ has stopped making WP-size denim. I've tried other brands and haven't found any that fit well. I'm 5'4 1/2″ and weigh about 200 pounds. I have a short rise, so plus size in a short length droop horribly in the crotch, even with a belt. I don't really have a defined waist. Petite jeans are cut too small. I work with kids all day, so I prefer a higher waistline. I never wear tucked-in shirts. For jeans that fit well, I'm not limited by a budget.
As someone who is 5'3″ and not that much different in weight from you, I feel you. Petite jeans aren't usually made to accommodate curves like a woman's petite will, they often are too short, and a lot of non-petite jeans are just too long in the rise. Also why do so many brands stop their petite offerings at a size 10 or 12? Why is it so hard to find well-fitting jeans when we're the average size of an American woman? Good thing there are some brands that do fit our shape, the brands I have had the most success with:
I had no idea this brand sold anything larger than a size 12 until I received a pair in my Stitch Fix box. Come to find out DL1961 carries up to a size 34 (which is around a size 18) in regular and petite lengths. While department stores don't carry their full size range, you can order directly from their website. These are not cheap jeans, but the quality and fit are so phenomenal the pricepoint is justified.
Shop DL1961 Jeans:
This brand is pretty phenomenal. They are all about inclusivity and go up to a size 24. They make their own denim, and they don't carry a single pair that is over $100. I received a pair in one of my Dia & Co boxes and it is some of the best fitting denim I have ever worn (as an FYI I have them in a 16). They keep their shape, they've kept their color with multiple washes and tumbles in the dryer, and they're a nice high rise without hitting my ribcage. The specific style I have doesn't look to be on their website, but it's a skinny jean with a raw hem in a dark grey color (I wore them in this blog post). But I like them so much I plan to buy more in the future. Warp & Weft is also available at Bloomingdale's.
Talbots carries women's petite and their denim is quite nice in regard to quality and fit. However, it takes some time to find the right cut and size for your frame but it's worth your while. I have Talbots jeans that are years old and look newer than designer brands I bought just a few months ago. If you have a Talbots near you consider visiting so you can have a try-on session with a variety of sizes, especially if you are between straight and plus sizing. From there, you can shop in-store or online (Talbots does a pretty good job of keeping consistent sizing). Note that Talbots carries their denim straight line to 20P and their women petite to 22WP.
Shop Talbots Jeans:
I am not recommending this brand for you specifically since you know NYDJ so well, but for others, this denim brand does carry petites up to size 18, they just discontinued their petite plus offerings. The quality is great, the fit is great, and I have NYDJ jeans that are five years old and still look like new. NYDJ can be found at most popular department stores like Nordstrom and Dillards, plus Zappos and other online retailers and the NYDJ website. I've found some steals on NYDJ on 6pm.
Shop NYDJ Jeans:
While Levi's doesn't carry petites in their plus size range, they do always offer inseam length and I find their rise is never too high for my short torso. You will find the best selection of Levi's on their website and Amazon; I prefer to shop the brand on Amazon because there are so many customer reviews to help decide on style.
