MVC FieldLabelFor helper. Helps generate a better label based entirely off a model's metadata properties.

FieldLabelFor.cs

/* add using statements */

public static class HtmlExtensions {
    /// <summary>
    /// Generates a better label. 
    /// Text based off given labelText, [DisplayName], or property name.
    /// If the field is optional ([Required]), adds an (optional) em tag. 
    /// If the field has a description ([Description]), adds a class="note" span tag.
    /// </summary>
    /// <typeparam name="TModel"></typeparam>
    /// <typeparam name="TResult"></typeparam>
    /// <param name="html"></param>
    /// <param name="expression"></param>
    /// <returns></returns>
    /// <remarks>
    /// Output markup:
    ///     <code><![CDATA[
    ///     <label for="input">
    ///         [Label text]
    ///         <em class="optional">(optional)</em>
    ///         <span class="note">A description</span>
    ///     </label>
    ///     ]]>            
    ///     </code>
    /// Inspired by: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3149385/can-i-change-the-way-labelfor-render-in-mvc/3153654#3153654
    /// </remarks>
    public static MvcHtmlString FieldLabelFor<TModel, TResult>(this HtmlHelper<TModel> html, Expression<Func<TModel, TResult>> expression, string labelText = null) {
	string propName = ExpressionHelper.GetExpressionText(expression);
	string unqualifiedPropName = propName.Split('.').Last(); // if there is a . in the name, take the rightmost part.
	ModelMetadata metadata = html.ViewData.ModelMetadata.Properties.First(p => p.PropertyName == propName);

	string finallabelText = labelText ?? metadata.DisplayName ?? metadata.PropertyName ?? unqualifiedPropName;
	if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(finallabelText))
	{
		return MvcHtmlString.Empty;
	}

	StringBuilder htmlBuilder = new StringBuilder();
	TagBuilder tag = new TagBuilder("label");
	tag.Attributes.Add("for", html.ViewContext.ViewData.TemplateInfo.GetFullHtmlFieldId(propName));
	htmlBuilder.Append(finallabelText);

	if (!metadata.IsRequired)
	{
		htmlBuilder.Append(" <em class='optional'>(optional)</em>");
	}

	// Check description in metadatatype too
	var metaDataType = metadata.ContainerType.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(MetadataTypeAttribute), true).FirstOrDefault();
	var description = metadata.ContainerType.GetProperty(unqualifiedPropName)
		.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), true).FirstOrDefault();

	// No description attr on model prop, check metadatatype
	if (description == null && metaDataType != null)
	{
		var metaProp = ((MetadataTypeAttribute)metaDataType)
			.MetadataClassType.GetProperty(unqualifiedPropName);

		if (metaProp != null)
			description = metaProp.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(DescriptionAttribute), true).FirstOrDefault();
	}

	if (description != null)
	{
		htmlBuilder.Append(String.Format("<span class=\"note\">{0}</span>", (description as DescriptionAttribute).Description));
	}

	tag.InnerHtml = htmlBuilder.ToString();

	return MvcHtmlString.Create(tag.ToString(TagRenderMode.Normal));
    }
}