<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <style> option {color: red} option[selected] {color: green} option[selected]:default + option {color: green} </style> </head> <body onload='var elem = document.getElementById("one"); elem.setAttribute("selected", "selected");'> <select size="2"> <option id="one">Should be no red</option> <option id="two">Should be no red</option> </select> </body> </html>