diff --git a/source/directives/select-field.ts b/source/directives/select-field.ts
index 292e071..b6bf57c 100644
--- a/source/directives/select-field.ts
+++ b/source/directives/select-field.ts
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ module formFor {
 
       $scope.allowBlank = $attributes.hasOwnProperty('allowBlank');
       $scope.preventDefaultOption = $attributes.hasOwnProperty('preventDefaultOption');
-
+      $scope.showPlaceholderForEmptyValues = $attributes.hasOwnProperty('showPlaceholderForEmptyValues');
+      
       // Read from $attributes to avoid getting any interference from $scope.
       $scope.labelAttribute = $attributes['labelAttribute'] || 'label';
       $scope.valueAttribute = $attributes['valueAttribute'] || 'value';
@@ -315,8 +316,12 @@ module formFor {
         $scope.bindableOptions.push.apply($scope.bindableOptions, $scope.options);
 
         // Once a value has been selected, clear the placeholder prompt.
-        if ($scope.model.bindable) {
+        if ($scope.model.bindable && !$scope.showPlaceholderForEmptyValues) {
           $scope.emptyOption[$scope.labelAttribute] = '';
+          $scope.emptyOption.hide = false;
+        } else if ($scope.showPlaceholderForEmptyValues && $scope.model.bindable === undefined) {
+          $scope.emptyOption[$scope.labelAttribute] = $scope.placeholder;
+          $scope.emptyOption.hide = true;
         }
       };
 
@@ -412,4 +417,4 @@ module formFor {
     ($document, $log, $timeout, FieldHelper, FormForConfiguration) => {
       return new SelectFieldDirective($document, $log, $timeout, FieldHelper, FormForConfiguration);
     });
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/styles/default/select-field.styl b/styles/default/select-field.styl
index 1f3705b..ecd4751 100644
--- a/styles/default/select-field.styl
+++ b/styles/default/select-field.styl
@@ -29,6 +29,14 @@ select-field {
         opacity: $opacity-disabled;
       }
     }
+    
+    &.placeholder {
+        color: #999999;
+        option: {
+            color: #555555;
+        }
+    }
+    
   }
 
   &.invalid select {
diff --git a/templates/bootstrap/select-field/_select.html b/templates/bootstrap/select-field/_select.html
index 69aa4d6..3e69488 100644
--- a/templates/bootstrap/select-field/_select.html
+++ b/templates/bootstrap/select-field/_select.html
@@ -2,8 +2,13 @@
         id="{{model.uid}}"
         name="{{attribute}}"
         class="form-control"
+        ng-class="{{placeholder: !model.bindable}}"
         tabindex="{{tabIndex}}"
         ng-disabled="disable || model.disabled"
-        ng-model="model.bindable"
-        ng-options="option[valueAttribute] as option[labelAttribute] for option in bindableOptions">
-</select>
\ No newline at end of file
+        ng-model="model.bindable">
+        <option ng-repeat="option in bindableOptions" 
+                selected="{{option[valueAttribute] == model.bindable}}" 
+                ng-attr-style="{{ option.hide && 'display:none;' || null }}" 
+                value="{{option[valueAttribute]}}" 
+                label="{{option[labelAttribute]}}"></option>
+</select>