More black and white inspiration comes from Jason Wu - he has infused his collection with floral patterns and edgy lace and cut outs.  The feel is somewhat bohemian meets classic eveningwear, and the result is gorgeous!  Key takeaways are that:

1. Peplum works really well if there is some sort of pattern/texture up top - it helps balance the structural element of the skirt and doesn’t make it feel distracting/disruptive to the silhouette

2. With cutouts/slits, make sure you have a balance in the amount of skin showing to maintain that elegant feel

3. When wearing a dress w/ a wider skirt, detailing at the bottom helps keep the line feeling long rather than wide as it draws the eye down