How to Reinvent the Jean Jacket

— -- The jean jacket is not just a 1980s fashion fad. The closet staple is a fashion classic that can easily be reinvented for any occasion.

Good Housekeeping magazine’s style director, Lori Bergamotto, joined “Good Morning America” today to show us how to give the jean jacket an updated look.

Here are Bergamotto's tips, in her own words.

Chic: Cape your jean jacket to achieve a sophisticated look.

"Denim doesn’t always read 'dressed up,' so you have to find other ways to elevate it. One way is to wear it as a coverlet, just draped over your shoulders, on top of a chic outfit. We opted for wide-legged culottes and a solid top. The key to making this work is keeping your top on the tighter side. Adding some flair in the form of buttons or embroidery or patches also makes the look feel very current."

Weekend wardrobe upgrade: Button up your jean jacket to dress it down.

"Sure you can wear the denim jacket over your shirt, but why not wear it as your shirt. We styled this look with the jacket buttoned all the way up, collar popped, and sleeves scrunched up. We put it over a dress so that it just looks like a denim top and flowy skirt.

We’ve talked about trying to elevate more casual pieces by pairing them with dressed up extras, but it’s also just as effective to use a more casual item—like this denim jacket—to take a fancy dress (that you might not otherwise wear) out on a low-key Saturday. Style the jacket over it, add white sneakers and a cross-body bag to really downplay the fussiness and fullness of the skirt."

Set a new trend: Use your jean jacket as a layering piece.

"We’ve styled the jacket over the shirt, as the shirt, but how about…under the shirt? Yep, we used the jacket here as a layering piece styled under the striped sleeveless shirt.

We know that right now it might be too warm in parts of the country to test drive this look today, but it’s a really easy and inexpensive way to layer your outfit as we get into fall.

To pull this off you need to make sure the proportions are correct. The shirt has to be longer and looser than the jacket, and the jeans or pants should also be straight-legged. You want a lot of clean lines here."

Denim DIY: Transform your jean jacket for the summer with a pair of scissors.

"If you have a jean jacket that has simply seen better days, you can resurrect it by doing a little Denim DIY. All you need to transform your jacket into a vest is a good pair of house scissors and a steady hand.

Cut the sleeve about a half-inch from the seam. This acts as your insurance policy to make sure you’re getting a clean cut. Then turn the jacket inside out and cut alongside the outer seam. This is to avoid the sleeves from fraying."

Bonus Tip: "Don’t be afraid to look in the kids, men's and even maternity departments for your denim jacket. You’d be surprised at how a cropped style or oversized look can really help inspire you to invent myriad new ways to wear your old classic."