title: Setting the default value to a select list
body: <p>I have this list of string:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public static readonly List&lt;string&gt; LIST_ITEM_STATE = new List&lt;string&gt;
  {
      "Brand new",
      "Never used",
      "Slightly used",
      "Used",
      "Heavily used",
      "Damaged",
      "Ruined",
      "Run for your life"
  };
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And I'm building a selectlist this way in a class:</p>
  
  <pre><code>public string mItemState { get; set; }
  public IEnumerable&lt;SelectListItem&gt; mItemStateList { get; set; }
  
  mItemStateList = new SelectList(ValueDomain.LIST_ITEM_STATE);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And, in my view, I render the dropdownlistfor like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Item State: @Html.DropDownListFor(_item =&gt; _item.mItemState, Model.mItemStateList, String.Empty)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The dropdownlist works like a charm, but I've been looking for ways to set the selected value by defaul at <code>Brand New</code> while keeping the <code>String.Emtpty</code> option. How could I do that?</p>