NEW YORK (AFP) - New York Fashion Week kicks off the global fall/winter 2018 season fighting to stay relevant, blighted by sexual harassment scandals, an industry in chaos, and designers jumping ship.

But as social media influencers wrestle power from fashion editors and buyers, more labels are opting out this season, abandoning New York for Europe or tearing up the runway show altogether.

Here is a look at the top trends expected to dominate when Fashion Week formally gets under way on Thursday, preceded by three days of men's shows.

#MeToo: Misconduct accusations have seen photographers Terry Richardson, Mario Testino and Bruce Weber barred from collaborating with Vogue and Vanity Fair publisher Conde Nast.

But the Model Alliance has demanded "meaningful and lasting change", saying "voluntary standards" without education, proper complaint mechanisms and independent enforcement "are not going to work".

Great escape: Tommy Hilfiger is taking his see-now, buy-now fashion roadshow to Milan, Rihanna's Fenty collaboration with Puma is taking a break, and rap superstar Kanye West chose to unveil his latest instalment for urban sportswear brand Yeezy last week on Instagram, modelled by his wife Kim Kardashian.

Former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham is marking her last show in New York before celebrating her label's 10th anniversary in London. Spanish label Delpozo is already moving to London and Tome to Paris.

Bucking the trend is Italian luxury house Bottega Veneta, showing on Thursday as a one-off to celebrate a new boutique in Madison Avenue.

Model royalty: Face and figure alone are no longer a guarantor of hitting the big time. Instead, think genes, having the right name and an Instagram following.

The examples are 16-year-old Kaia Gerber, look-alike daughter of Cindy Crawford who is collaborating on a collection with Karl Lagerfeld, and Gigi and Bella Hadid, daughters of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Yolanda Hadid.