<script> var unSelected = "#999"; var selected = "#333"; $(function () { $("select").css("color", unSelected); $("option").css("color", selected); $("select").change(function () { var selItem = $(this).val(); if (selItem == $(this).find('option:first').val()) { $(this).css("color", unSelected); } else { $(this).css("color", selected); } }); }) </script>